DIVINE COMMANDS AND PROMISES

SABBATH

SCHOOL

LESSON

Senior Division, No. 297, Third Quarter, 1969

THE BLESSING OF DAILY STUDY

"Set apart a little time each day for study of the Sabbath School lesson."—

Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students,

page 137.

"Let the Sabbath School lesson be learned, not by a hasty glance at the

lesson scripture on Sabbath morning, but by careful study for the next week

on Sabbath afternoon, with daily review or illustration during the week. Thus

the lesson will become fixed in the memory, a treasure never to be wholly lost."

—Education,

pages 251, 252.

My Daily Lesson Study Pledge

As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge of the Scriptures, I

pledge myself to the careful and prayerful study of some portion of my Sabbath

School lesson each day of the week.

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Lesson Titles for the Quarter

"Look Now Toward Heaven"

"Fear Thou Not"

"Be Ye Doers of the Word"

"Hope Thou in God"

"Follow After . . . Patience"

"Love Your Enemies"

"Judge Not"

"Watch Unto Prayer"

"Overcome Evil With Good"

10.

"Be Careful for Nothing"

11.

"Grieve Not the Holy Spirit"

12.

"Be Ye Reconciled"

13.

"Be Ye Perfect"

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Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly

DIVINE COMMANDS AND PROMISES

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Obedience to all the revealed will of God

is fundamental for the Christian. Every

follower of Jesus should be able to say, as

He did: "I delight to do Thy will, 0 My

God: yea, Thy law is within my heart."

Ps. 40:8. The law of which the psalmist

here speaks prophetically includes not only

the Ten Commandments, but many other

commands, admonitions, exhortations, and

appeals, all of which mean much in the

Christian's experience. In the lessons which

follow, some of these significant commands

are examined in order to determine the

appropriate responses to God's will. We

shall learn that the path of obedience

takes on an aura of glory because "all His

biddings are enablings," and with every

command and admonition is linked a gra-

cious promise. This brings everlasting life

within the grasp of the humblest, weakest

saint or the most needy sinner.

"The conditions of eternal life, under

grace, are just what they were in Eden—

perfect righteousness, harmony with God,

perfect conformity to the principles of His

law. The standard of character presented

in the Old Testament is the same that is

presented in the New Testament. This

standard is not one to which we cannot

attain. In every command or injunction

that God gives there is a promise, the most

positive, underlying the command. God has

made provision that we may become like

unto Him, and He will accomplish this for

all who do not interpose a perverse will

and thus frustrate His

grace."—Thoughts

From the Mount of Blessing,

page 76.

Lesson 1, for July 5, 1969

"Look Now Toward Heaven"

MEMORY VERSE: "And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward

heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto

him, So shall thy seed be." Gen. 15:5.

STUDY HELPS: "Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 132-138; "SDA Bible Commen-

tary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey

;

learn memory verse.

❑

Sunday: Questions 1-4.

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Monday: Questions 5-8.

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Tuesday: Begin reading study helps.

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Check Here

Wednesday: Questions 9-12.

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Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. The Command, "Look Now Toward

Heaven"

Given by God. Gen. 15:1, 2, 5.

Revealed through vision.

Gen. 15:1.

A command and a promise.

Gen. 15:5, 7.

Acceptance based upon faith.

Gen. 15:6; Heb. 11:6.

II. What the Look Toward Heaven

Reveals

"Him who is invisible." Heb. 11:27.

God's throne room. Rev. 4:1, 2.

God's mercy seat. Ps. 36:5 ; 90:14.

God's love. John 3:16; 1 John

4:7-11.

III. The Gaze Heavenward

Assures God's help. Ps. 121:1, 2.

10.

Means power for every need.

Isa. 40:26, 28-31; Matt. 28:18.

11.

Helps us to see the nearness of

Christ's coming. Luke 21:25-28.

12.

Keeps our minds centered on

things above. Col. 3:1-4.

THE LESSON

reward.'"-Patriarchs and Prophets,

page

136.

Introduction

The course of our lives is often veiled in

mystery. As Paul says, we see "through

a glass, darkly." But we may thank God

that beyond the veil lies His highway.

Many live from day to day with dissatisfied

hearts because they do not look toward

heaven. Even when they do, they fail to

see God's mercy seat. Vainly they hope

that tomorrow will bring the satisfaction

they do not experience today. But the

secret of greater satisfaction is found in

closer fellowship with Christ. The divine

directive, "Look now toward heaven," was

given in order to bring us into a sacred

nearness to the Redeemer. Obedience to

this command assures us of His everlasting

mercy and unquestionable faithfulness.

3. What were the promises the Lord

made to Abram? Gen. 15:5, 7.

NOTE .-Regarding the promises, "So

shall thy seed be" and "To give thee this

land to inherit it," we read: "For the third

time God assures Abram that he is to

possess the entire land of Canaan. . . . But

his status had not changed in the least since

he first entered Canaan. At intervals God

repeated the promise, and Abram accepted

it without ever seeing a visible sign of its

fulfillment."-SDA

Bible Commentary,

Gen. 15:7.

The Command, "Look Now

Toward Heaven"

By whom was the command,

"Look now toward heaven," given?

Gen. 15:1, 2, 5. Compare Isa. 40:26.

In what way did the Lord reveal

Himself to Abram? Gen. 15:1.

NOTE.

-"This

shows that the vision was

given to Abram at night. Still in vision,

the patriarch was led out into the open

and bidden to lift his eyes to the starry sky

and count-if he could-its myriad glit-

tering orbs, if he would know the number

of his seed."-SDA

Bible Commentary,

Gen. 15:5.

"In a vision of the night the divine

Voice was again heard. 'Fear not, Abram,'

were the words of the Prince of princes;

`I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great

4. What was Abram's response to

God's promises, and how was it

counted to him? Gen. 15:6; Heb.

11:6.

NOTE.

-"Paul

used this text as the

cornerstone on which he erected the doc-

trine of justification by faith (Rom. 4:3;

Gal. 3:6). Although the possibility that

Abram would have children had decreased

since God's first promise, as his age in-

creased, he did not hesitate to take God's

word that it would be so. The Hebrew ver-

bal form, translated 'he believed,'

he'emin,

is from the same root as the word

amen,

with which we emphasize our desire that

God may hear and fulfill our prayers. This

verb expresses complete trust in the power

and promises of God. The particular form

of the verb here used expresses, further-

more, that this was not just Abram's his-

torical experience at the moment, but an

abiding character trait as well. He kept on

believing."-SDA

Bible Commentary,

Gen. 15:6.

[4]

What the Look Toward Heaven

Reveals

Because of Moses' faith what

did God permit him to see? Heb. 11:

27. Compare Acts 7:55, 56.

NOTE.—"Moses did not merely think of

God; he saw Him. God was the constant

vision before him; he never lost sight of

His face. He saw Jesus as his Saviour, and

he believed that the Saviour's merits would

be imputed to him. This faith was to

Moses no guesswork; it was a reality. This

is the kind of faith we need, faith that will

endure the test. Oh, how often we yield to

temptation because we do not keep our eye

upon Jesus. Our faith is not continuous

because, through self-indulgence, we sin,

and then we cannot endure `as seeing Him

who is

invisible.'"—Testimonies,

Vol. 5,

p. 652.

When John the Revelator looked

heavenward, what did he see? Rev.

4:1, 2. Compare Isa. 6:1-4.

NOTE.—"I

looked.

Or `I saw,' an expres-

sion John uses repeatedly to introduce new

scenes or important symbols. . . .

"A door.

Here the door, apparently, into

the throne room of the universe. . . . This

throne room has been identified as the

most holy place of the heavenly sanc-

tuary."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Rev.

4:1.

To appreciate God's greatness, His good-

ness, we must by faith look out and up

and beyond the narrow confines of our

earth and behold God's throne room.

Where did David place God's

mercy, and what will it do for us?

Ps. 36:5; 90:14.

NOTE.—"The psalmist seems to soar sud-

denly upward, above the depravity of hu-

manity, to the limitless spaces where dwell

the attributes of God. Because the Hebrew

preposition

be,

`in,' may also mean `from,'

as shown by Ugaritic parallels . . . , this

passage should probably be understood as

stating that God's loving-kindness comes

`from the heavens.'

"—SDA Bible Com-

mentary,

on Ps. 36:5.

God's throne is filled with His mercy.

The two words "mercy" and "faithfulness"

are lovely attributes of God's character.

Both invite us to look heavenward. God's

love and mercy are inseparable; they are

seen in the heavens.

When we by faith look unto

God, what outstanding characteristic

do we behold? John 3:16; 1 John

4:7-11.

NOTE.—When the great preacher Dr.

Samuel Rose spoke on the words in 1 John

4:7, 8, he made the following analyses:

1. A definition of the new birth—"Every-

one that loveth is born of God." 2. A defi-

nition of God—"God is love." 3. A test

of Christian discipleship—"He that loveth

not knoweth not God." What a world of

thought opens before us. Back of it all we

see God's divine love. If our lives are des-

titute of this love, we do not know Christ

as our personal Saviour.• The purpose of

His coming to this world was to reveal

the love of God. The greatest discovery is

the discovery that "God is love." To make

this discovery is to know the way of

eternal salvation.

The Gaze Heavenward

What assurance do we receive

when we look to God? Ps. 121:1, 2.

NOTE.—"David composed Ps. 121 in the

Wilderness of Paran, immediately after

learning of the death of Samuel (PP 664).

When David realized that his last in-

fluential earthly friend was gone, he turned

to the Lord for his sole remaining help.

The psalm has been a great blessing to

countless thousands who at one time or

another have found themselves in circum-

stances more or less similar to those in

which the psalmist finds himself."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

Introduction to Psalm

121.

"From whence. . . .

It is not from the

hills or the mountains that God's children

receive help, but from

God."—Ibid.,

Ps. 121:1.

[ 5 ]

10.

How all-inclusive is the prom-

ise of divine help when we look

toward God? Isa. 40:26, 28-31; Matt.

28:18.

NoTE.—"The God who faints not im-

parts strength

to fainting hearts. What-

ever man's nee s may be, God is able to

supply them all. . . . Those who in meek-

ness and lowliness of spirit realize their

own frailties and shortcomings are the

most certain of having their needs sup-

plied. . . . God's ear is always attuned to

the cry of those who feel themselves in-

sufficient for the tasks at hand and who

desire the help of Heaven. It is in the

weakness of humanity that God's strength

is made perfect. . . . This fact has been

proved in the lives of countless thousands."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Isa. 40:29.

"What is this power given to Him for?

For us. He desires us to realize that He

has returned to heaven as our Elder

Brother, and that the measureless power

given Him has been placed at our

dis-

posal."—Testimonies,

Vol. 9, p. 186.

11.

In the end-time of history what

climactic event becomes the focal

point of the Christian's upward gaze?

Luke 21:25-28.

NoTE.—"Christ had bidden His people

watch for the signs of His advent and

rejoice as they should behold the tokens of

their coming King. 'When these things be-

gin to come to pass,' He said, 'then look

up, and lift up your heads; for your re-

demption draweth nigh.' He pointed His

followers to the budding trees of spring,

and said: 'When they now shoot forth, ye

see and know of your own selves that

summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise

ye, when ye see these things come to pass,

know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh

at hand.'

"—The Great Controversy,

pages

308, 309.

12.

What is Paul's admonition to

those who are risen with Christ? Col.

3:1-4. Compare Matt. 6:33.

NOTE.—"If. There is no doubt implied

in the Greek. The phrase thus introduced

has an argumentative conditional force.

The condition is assumed as being true.

"Risen with Christ.

Paul's words might

be paraphrased, 'Since then you have been

raised with Christ.' The 'then' takes us

back to ch. 2:20, and still further back

to vs. 12, 13. Paul is stressing the glorious

position and privileges that the believer

has in his Saviour. The poor expedient of

a legalistic, or mechanical, religion, full

of routines and taboos, by contrast with

vital Christianity, is needless and futile.

"Seek.

That is, make a habit of seeking,

as the Greek implies. . . .

"Those things.

The drive of the will,

vitalized by the power of Jesus, should be

directed to heavenly things. Man's ob-

jectives and efforts, turned away from

the rudiments of the world, should be

centered in heavenly realities."—SDA

Bi-

ble Commentary,

on Col. 3:1.

Thought for Meditation

We need to "look now toward heaven"

and draw spiritual strength from that

surveying. The same stars are there that

Abraham beheld; the same God is holding

them in the hollow of His hand. Troubled

hearts that look for help will find it in

the upward look, the look to heaven and

God.

Lesson 2, for July 12, 1969

"Fear Thou Not"

MEMORY VERSE:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am

thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee

with the right hand of My righteousness." Isa. 41:10.

STUDY HELPS:

"The Desire of Ages," pages 333-341; "Testimonies to Ministers,"

pages 516-520; "SDA Bible Commentary."

[6]

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.



❑

Sunday: Questions 1-3.



❑

Monday: Questions 4, 5; begin

reading study helps.



❑

Check Here

Tuesday: Questions 6-9.



Wednesday: Questions

10, 11.

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Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. Age of Fear

Prophesied. Luke 21:25, 26.

Not to be found among God's

people. Luke 12:32 ; Ps. 91:5.

II. Causes for Fear

Sin. Isa. 33:14; 57:20, 21.

Lack of faith. Mark 4:36-40.

III. Remedy for Fear

Christ. Ps. 34:4.

Redemption. Isa. 43:1-5.

Love. 1 John 4:18.

God's promises. Isa. 41:10.

IV. Examples of Fearlessness

Joshua and Caleb. Num. 14:1, 2,

6-9.

10.

Daniel. Dan. 6:16-23.

11.

Paul. Acts 27:21-25.

THE LESSON

NOTE

.-"Men's hearts. . . .

Literally,

'men expiring from fear,' or 'men fainting

from fear.' The latter part of the verse

gives us the climactic reason for men's

hearts failing them for fear, the shaking of

'the powers of heaven.' The scene here

depicted takes place under the seventh

plague. . . . Upon this scene 'the wicked

look with terror and amazement,' . . .

calling for the mountains and the rocks to

fall upon them."-SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Luke 21:26.

Introduction

It is human to fear because the instinct

of fear is rooted in our nature. Trust can

be engendered by an acquaintance with

God. It is one thing to say, "When I am

afraid, I will trust in God," but quite

another to say, "I will trust and not be

afraid." It is good to remember that the

fear of God delivers us from the fears in

the world. Earthly fear smothers the best

impulses of our lives; it destroys our joy;

it disturbs our peace; it weakens us spiri-

tually and physically.

The dictionary defines fear as "A feeling

of anxiety and agitation caused by the

presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain,

etc.; timidity ; dread; terror ; fright ; ap-

prehension."-New

World Dictionary of

the American Language,

College Edition.

"The concept of fear as expressed in the

Bible covers a wide range of emotions.

. . . The exact shade of thought or degree

of fear generally needs to be determined

from the context; but in most cases the

Biblical usage of 'fear' reasonably approxi-

mates our modern English usage of the

term."-SDA

Bible Dictionary,

on "Fear,"

page 346.

Age of Fear

1. What did Jesus say would be one

of the signs of the end? Luke 21:

25, 26.

2. What is God's admonition to

His people in

time of fear? Luke

12:32; Ps. 91:5.

NOTE.-"Fearful tests and trials await

the people of God. The spirit of war is

stirring the nations from one end of the

earth to the other. But in the midst of

the time of trouble that is coming,-a time

of trouble such as has not been since there

was a nation,-God's chosen people will

stand unmoved. Satan and his host can-

not destroy them, for angels that excel in

strength will protect

them."-Testimonies,

Vol. 9, p. 17.

Causes for Fear

What is the underlying cause of

fear? Isa. 33:14; 57:20, 21. See also

Job 11:14, 15.

NOTE.—"There

is no peace.

Peace is the

fruit of righteousness. . . . Among the

works of the flesh are 'hatred, variance,

emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, her-

esies' . . . , whereas love, joy, and peace

are among the fruits of the Spirit. . . .

The wicked cannot hope to enjoy either

peace of mind within or tranquillity with-

out. Where there is a departure from di-

vine principles, dissension, variance, and

strife inevitably arise. If the world would

put away strife, it must first put away

sin, the cause of strife. Only righteousness

within can produce peace without."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Isa. 57:21.

"Put it far away.

Zophar appeals to Job

to put away sin, of which he is certain

Job is guilty, as a prerequisite to the return

of security and felicity.

"Then.

When you have repented of your

sins, you will find confidence and security

and absence of fear."—Ibid., on Job 11:

14, 15.

What did Jesus say was the

cause of fear in the lives of His dis-

ciples during a storm? Mark 4:36-40.

NOTE.—"When Jesus was awakened to

meet the storm, He was in perfect peace.

There was no trace of fear in word or

look, for no fear was in His heart. . . .

"As Jesus rested by faith in the Fa-

ther's care, so we are to rest in the care

of our Saviour. If the disciples had trusted

in Him, they would have been kept in

peace. Their fear in the time of danger

revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to

save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and

it was only when, in despair of self-

dependence, they turned to Him that He

could give them help."—The

Desire of

Ages,

page 336.

Remedy for Fear

In what way and through whom

did David overcome fear? Ps. 34:4.

NorE.—"When for the truth's sake the

believer stands at the bar of earthly tri-

bunals, Christ stands by his side. When

he is confined within prison walls, Christ

manifests Himself to him and cheers his

heart with His love. When he suffers

death for Christ's sake, the Saviour says

to him, They may kill the body, but they

cannot hurt the soul. 'Be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world.' Fear thou

not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;

for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;

yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold

thee with the right hand of My righteous-

ness.'

"—The Acts of the Apostles,

pages

85, 86.

What does God through the

prophet Isaiah give as a remedy for

fear? Isa. 43:1-5.

NoTE.—Christ came to redeem us from

sin. With sin in the life fear is inevitable

—with the eradication of sin fear van-

ishes. We are redeemed through the pre-

cious blood of Christ. To us He says, "Fear

not, for I have redeemed thee." Our in-

timate relationship with Christ through

redemption is expressed thus:

"So the work of redeeming us and our

inheritance, lost through sin, fell upon Him

who is 'near of kin' unto us. It was to

redeem us that He became our kinsman.

Closer than father, mother, brother, friend,

or lover is the Lord our Saviour."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 327.

What will cast out fear? 1 John

4:18.

NOTE.—"Since there is no fear in love,

one who fears demonstrates that he is not

yet made perfect in respect to the high

form of love of which the apostle is speak-

ing. . . . As we learn to know the Lord

we begin to love Him, and our fear changes

from a haunting dread of a powerful and

avenging God to a 'clean' . . . fear that

does not wish to disappoint a friend. The

more we grow in love, the less we fear.

When our love is perfectly developed and

freed from all trace of self, we shall be

without craven fear of God or man. We

[81

shall not fear God because we know that

He is love. We shall not fear man because

we know that our loving Friend will allow

nothing to come upon us that will not

be for our ultimate good, and that He

will be with us whenever our path leads

through trial or danger."—SDA

Bible Com-

mentary,

on 1 John 4:18.

Following the injunction, "Fear

thou not," what five promises does the

prophet Isaiah mention? Isa. 41:10.

Examples of Fearlessness

What noble example of fearless-

ness do we find in the lives of Joshua

and Caleb? Num. 14:1, 2, 6-9.

NoTE.—Israel rebelled against God. They

believed the evil report that the ten spies

brought back, for we read: "And they

went so far as to appoint a captain to

lead them back to the land of their suffer-

ing and bondage, from which they had

been delivered by the strong arm of Om-

nipotence.

"In humiliation and distress 'Moses and

Aaron fell on their faces before all the as-

sembly of the congregation of the children

of Israel,' not knowing what to do to turn

them from their rash and passionate pur-

pose. Caleb and Joshua attempted to quiet

the tumult. With their garments rent in

token of grief and indignation, they rushed

in among the people, and their ringing

voices were heard above the tempest of

lamentation and rebellious

grief."—Patri-

archs and Prophets,

pages 389, 390.

10.

What experience in the life of

Daniel reveals his fearlessness? Dan.

6:16-23.

NOTE.—"From the story of Daniel's de-

liverance we may learn that in seasons of

trial and gloom God's children should be

just what they were when their prospects

were bright with hope and their surround-

ings all that they could desire. Daniel in

the lion's den was the same Daniel who

stood before the king as chief among the

ministers of state and as a prophet of the

Most High. A man whose heart is stayed

upon God will be the same in the hour of

his greatest trial as he is in prosperity,

when the light and favor of God and of

man beam upon him. Faith reaches to the

unseen and grasps eternal realities.

"Heaven is very near those who suffer

for righteousness' sake. Christ identifies

His interests with the interests of His faith-

ful people; He suffers in the person of His

saints, and whoever touches His chosen

ones touches Him. The power that is near

to deliver from physical harm or distress

is also near to save from the greater evil,

making it possible for the servant of God

to maintain his integrity under all cir-

cumstances, and to triumph through di-

vine

grace."—Prophets and Kings,

page

545.

11.

While facing death, how did

Paul show that he did not fear? Acts

27:21-25.

NOTE.—"The apostle, though himself suf-

fering physically, had words of hope for

the darkest hour, a helping hand in every

emergency. He grasped by faith the arm

of Infinite Power, and his heart was stayed

upon God. He had no fears for himself;

he knew that God would preserve him to

witness at Rome for the truth of Christ.

But his heart yearned with pity for the

poor souls around him, sinful, degraded,

and unprepared to die. As he earnestly

pleaded with God to spare their lives, it

was revealed to him that his prayer was

granted.

"Taking advantage of a lull in the tem-

pest, Paul stood forth on the deck and,

lifting up his voice, said: . . . 'There shall

be no loss of any man's life among you.

. . . I believe God, that it shall be even

as it was told

me.'"—The Acts of the

Apostles,

pages 442, 443.

Thought for Meditation

Those who fear the Lord most are the

least fearful of the future. Our trust must

be in God who delivers us from the fear

of men.

[ 9

Lesson 3, for July 19, 1969

"Be Ye Doers of the Word"

MEMORY VERSE:

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving

your own selves." James 1:22.

STUDY HELPS:

"Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 224-240, 627-636; "Steps to

Christ," last chapter; "SDA Bible Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.



❑

Sunday: Questions 1-4.



❑

Monday: Questions 5-7.



❑

Tuesday: Questions 8, 9; begin

reading study helps.



❑

Check Here

Wednesday: Questions 10-12; read

further from helps.



❑

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.



❑

Friday: Review entire lesson.



❑

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. Doers of the Word Are Obedient

Christ our example in obedience.

Phil. 2:6-8.

God is not pleased with partial

obedience. 1 Sam. 15:22.

Doers of the word are blessed

by God. Luke 11:28; Rev. 1:3;

James 1:25.

They build their house upon a

rock. Matt. 7:24, 25.

II. Hearers, Not Doers of the Word

Build their house upon sand.

Matt. 7:26, 27.

Deceive themselves. James 1:22.

Compared with one who forgets

his true condition. James 1:23, 24.

III. Characteristics of the Doers of

the Word

Born again. 1 Peter 1:22, 23.

Grow spiritually. 2 Peter 3:18.

10.

Walk in the light. Ps. 119:105.

11.

Fortified against sin. Ps. 119:11;

1 John 2:14.

12.

Bear fruit. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

THE LESSON

Introduction

"By obedience the people were to give

evidence of their faith. So all who hope

to be saved by the merits of the blood of

Christ should realize that they themselves

have something to do in securing their

salvation. While it is Christ only that can

redeem us from the penalty of transgres-

sion, we are to turn from sin to obedience.

Man is to be saved by faith, not by works;

yet his faith must be shown by his works.

God has given His Son to die as a propiti-

ation for sin, He has manifested the light

of truth, the way of life, He has given

facilities, ordinances, and privileges; and

now man must cooperate with these saving

agencies; he must appreciate and use the

helps that God has provided—believe and

obey all the divine requirements."—Patri-

archs

and Prophets,

page 279.

Doers of the Word Are

Obedient

1. What example of obedience to

God's will has Christ set for us?

Phil. 2:6-8.

NoTE.—"Jesus' obedience was rendered

to the extent of laying down His life. It

was humiliation indeed for God to become

[ 10 ]

man; and then, being man, to die a shame-

ful death on the cross. . . .

"Christ's obedience was of the same

nature as ours must be. It was 'in the

flesh' . . . that Christ rendered this obedi-

ence. He was man, subject to the same

desires to preserve His life as we are. He

was tempted by Satan, but overcame the

devil by the power of the Holy Spirit,

even as we may do. He exercised no power

in His own behalf that we may not em-

ploy."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Phil.

2:8.

How highly does God regard

obedience? 1 Sam. 15:22. Compare

2 Cor. 10:5.

NOTE.—"In his expedition against Ama-

lek, Saul thought he had done all that was

essential of that which the Lord had com-

manded him; but the Lord was not

pleased with partial obedience, nor willing

to pass over what had been neglected

through so plausible a motive. God has

given men no liberty to depart from His

requirements. The Lord had declared to

Israel, 'Ye shall not do . . . every man

whatsoever is right in his own eyes;' but

he shall 'observe and hear all these words

which I command thee.' . . . In deciding

upon any course of action we are not to

ask whether we can see that harm will re-

sult from it, but whether it is in keeping

with the will of God. 'There is a way which

seemeth right unto a man ; but the end

thereof are the ways of death.'

"—Patri-

archs and Prophets,

page 634.

What does the Lord pronounce

upon the doers of the word? Luke

11:28; Rev. 1:3; James 1:25.

NOTE.—God longs to bless us, but His

blessing is given upon the fulfillment of

conditions. In Luke 11:28 two conditions

are given, first to "hear" and second to

"keep" or do. The choice is ours. We alone

can make the decision. The words God

spoke anciently to His people have never

been altered. He still says, "A blessing, if

ye obey . . . : and a curse, if ye will not

obey." Deut. 11:27, 28.

To what does Jesus liken the

man who hears His words and does

them? Matt.

7:24, 25.

Narc.—"It is a dangerous thing to hear

a divine command if what is heard is not

translated into action, for hearing in-

evitably brings with it responsibility for

corresponding action. . . . Obedience trans-

forms the words of Christ into personal

character."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

Matt. 7:24.

It is well to remember that the house

is the "house" of character and it is built

upon a rock. Regarding this we read, "The

Lord Jesus Christ is the 'rock' on which

the individual Christian and the Christian

church as a community of character build-

ers are to be built. . . . According to Luke

6:48 the builder `digged deep' in order to

have a firm foundation. To build firmly

requires much time and effort; it is far

simpler to build a house without going

to the trouble of providing a solid founda-

tion."—Ibid.

Hearers, Not Doers of

the Word

In the parable to what is a man

likened who hears God's word but

does not do it, and what is the result

of his course? Matt. 7:26, 27.

NoTE.—"Thus Christ set forth the prin-

ciples of His kingdom, and showed them

to be the great rule of life. To impress the

lesson He adds an illustration. It is not

enough, He says, for you to hear My words.

By obedience you must make them the

foundation of your character. Self is but

shifting sand. If you build upon human

theories and inventions, your house will

fall. By the winds of temptation, the

tempests of trial, it will be swept away.

But these principles that I have given will

endure. Receive Me; build on My words."

—The Desire of Ages,

page 314.

What do those do who are only

hearers and not doers of the word?

James 1:22.

NOTE.—"Deceiving.

Gr.

paralogizomai,

'to

delude,' to deceive by false reasoning.' The

deception is one into which a man betrays

himself by false reasoning. The hearer de-

ceives himself when he reasons that mere

listening to the word, or much discussion

about truth, or membership in the church

is sufficient for salvation. There must be a

complete transformation of the life by

the power of the Holy Spirit, which

energizes believers into being 'doers of the

word.'

"—SDA Bible Commentary,

James 1:22.

What illustration is given to re-

veal the attitude of those who are

hearers and not doers of the word?

James 1:23, 24.

NoTE.—"As a mirror reflects the likeness

of the human face, soiled or blemished as

it may be, so the law of God reveals the

moral countenance, marred with defects

and stained with sin. To hear and to

understand the Word of God is like look-

ing into a mirror. In viewing the perfect

precepts of the law as magnified in the

character of Jesus Christ, we become

aware of our own shortcomings and de-

fects. The mirror of truth never flatters.

Paul was unaware of his own corrupt

nature until he saw himself in the mirror

of the law. Without the law he thought

himself morally adequate, 'alive,' but when

he really understood its lofty principles he

realized that he was spiritually dead. . . .

"The moment he turns from the mirror

he forgets his true appearance. The test

of sincerity and purpose is in the response

a man makes to the challenge of the Word

of God. Those who are 'hearers only,' as a

result of either procrastination or 'false

reasoning' . . . , choose not to surrender

their lives to God. The man who hears only

may be compared to the 'wayside' hearer

of Matt.

13:4."—SDA Bible Commentary,

on James 1:23.

Characteristics of the

Doers of the Word

What is one of the instrumen-

talities through which the new birth

is brought about? 1 Peter 1:22, 23.

Compare Matt. 18:3; 2 Cor. 5:17.

NOTE.—"The Scriptures constitute God's

word for man. . . . By adhering to its

principles any man will experience a 'new

birth' of hope, strength, and character.

Apart from the 'Word of God' man can

expect no moral transformation, no spiri-

tual regeneration."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on 1 Peter 1:23.

What is said concerning Chris-

tian experience? 2 Peter 3:18. Com-

pare 1 Peter 1:5-7.

NOTE.—There is no spiritual growth

without obedience to the Word of God.

Jesus said, "The words that I speak unto

you, they are spirit, and they are life."

John 6:63. To grow spiritually we must

feed upon spiritual food. This is found in

His Word.

"Grow.

The tense implies 'keep on grow-

ing.' . .

"Growth is characteristic of the true

child of God as it is of all living things,

inasmuch as he has found a new life in

Christ Jesus. . . . His goal is a character

that resembles the perfect character of his

Lord, and a mind that is able to think

His thoughts after Him. He aspires to

`grow up into Him in all things, which

is the head, even Christ.' . . In this life,

and thereafter in the life to come, the

Christian can look forward to endless

growth in character and in understanding

the will and ways of God. There will ever

be new worlds of mind and spirit for him

to conquer, new heights to climb, new

doors of adventure and opportunity to

open."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on 2 Pe-

ter 3:18.

10.

What has God given us to

guide us in the path of obedience?

Ps. 119:105.

NoTE.—Since God's Word is light, it is

logical to believe that only those who are

doers of God's will as revealed in His

Word walk in the light. The more desirous

we are to know God's will and to live up

to the light He has for us, the brighter and

the more secure will be our Christian ex-

perience.

"The Word of God illuminates the way

so that man may walk safely in the spiri-

tual darkness of this world. He who has

this light to guide him need not stumble

even though his path is beset with evil."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Ps. 119:105.

[ 12 ]

11.

What fortifies us against sin?

Ps. 119:11; 1 John 2:14. Compare

Matt. 4:4, 7, 10.

NoTE.—"This verse contains the secret of

true Christian living. A mere knowledge of

the Word will not keep us from sin, but

when the Word is treasured up in the

heart we have the weapons with which to

meet and conquer the wily

foe."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Ps. 119 A.1.

12.

What is revealed in the life of

the one who is a doer of the word?

2 Tim.

3:16, 17.

Compare John 15:

2-5, 16.

NOTE.—The words, "Throughly furnished

unto all good works," indicate that those

who accept the Word of God as inspired

and live in harmony with it will bear fruit

or reveal "good works." To bear fruit we

must abide in Him and be doers of His

word. We read, "A continuous abiding in

a living connection with Christ is essential

for growth and fruitfulness. . . . It is not

possible for one branch to depend upon

another for its vitality; each must main-

tain its own personal relationship to the

vine. Each member must bear its own

fruits."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on John

15:4.

Thought for Meditation

"When it is in the heart to obey God,

when efforts are put forth to this end,

Jesus accepts this disposition and effort

as man's best service, and He makes up

for the deficiency with His own divine

merit."—My

Life Today,

page 250.

Lesson 4, for July 26, 1969

"Hope Thou in God"

MEMORY VERSE:

"Why art thou cast down,

my soul? and why art thou dis-

quieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help

of His countenance." Ps.

42:5.

STUDY HELPS:

"Prophets and Kings," pages 681-702; "The Ministry of Healing,"

pages 161-169; "SDA Bible Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.

❑

Sunday: Questions 1-5.

❑

Monday: Questions 6-8; begin

reading study helps.

❑

Tuesday: Questions 9-11.

❑

Check Here

Wednesday: Questions 12, 13; read

further from helps.



❑

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. Importance of the Command

By nature we are without

hope. Eph. 2:12.

To counteract the false hope.

Job. 8:13-15; 11:20.

II. Source of the Christian's Hope

Christ. 1 Tim. 1:1; Jer. 17:7.

The Scriptures. Rom. 15:4.

Faith. Heb. 11:1.

[

13]

III. The Hope in God

lively hope. 1 Peter 1:3.

An anchor, sure and steadfast.

Heb. 6:17-19.

A blessed hope. Titus 2:13.

IV. What Hope Does for Us

9. Engenders courage. Ps. 31:24.

10.

Brings joy and happiness to the

heart. Ps. 146:5.

11.

Purifies the life. 1 John 3:2, 3.

12.

Sustains in time of trouble.

Joel 3:16.

13.

Comforts when we face death.

Prov. 14:32.

THE LESSON

2. What is said of the false hope of

the hypocrites and the wicked? Job

8:13-15; 11:20.

Introduction

"Hope and courage are essential to per-

fect service for God. These are the fruit of

faith. Despondency is sinful and unreason-

able. God is able and willing 'more abun-

dantly' . . . to bestow upon His servants

the strength they need for test and trial.

The plans of the enemies of His work may

seem to be well laid and firmly established,

but God can overthrow the strongest of

these. And this He does in His own time

and way, when He sees that the faith of

His servants has been sufficiently tested."

-Prophets and Kings,

page 164.

Importance of the Command

1. What is the condition of those

who are without Christ? Eph. 2:12.

NOTE.-"Without

Christ.

Or, 'apart from

Christ,' separated from Him. This is no

condemnation of the Gentiles, but simply

an assertion of the fact that, being without

connection with the Messiah, they were

without the source of regenerative power.

`Without Christ' is the tragic opposite

of Paul's oft-repeated theme phrase, 'in

Christ.'

"-SDA Bible Commentary,

Eph. 2:12.

"The hearts of Paul and his associate

workers were drawn out in behalf of those

who were 'without Christ, being aliens

from the commonwealth of Israel, and

strangers from the covenants of promise,

having no hope, and without God in the

world.' Through the untiring ministrations

of the apostles to the Gentiles, the 'stran-

gers and foreigners,' who 'sometimes were

far off,' learned that they had been 'made

nigh by the blood of Christ,' and that

through faith in His atoning sacrifice they

might become 'fellow citizens with the

saints, and of the household of God.'

The Acts of the Apostles,

page 175.

Source of the Christian's Hope

What do Paul and Jeremiah say

about our hope? 1 Tim. 1:1; Jet. 17:7.

NOTE.-"Hope.

. . .

Christ is not only

the object of man's hope but also its

source. Men find their basis for 'hope' for

temporal support as well as for future

immortality in Christ."-SDA

Bible Com-

mentary,

on 1 Tim. 1:

What does the Word of God

do for us? Rom. 15:4.

NorE.-"Thecripturei inspire hope in

those who endure suffering for God's sake

and for the sake of their fellowmen. The

endurance that the Christian is enabled to

display, and the comfort that he receives

in his affliction confirm and strengthen this

hope. For the connection between patience

and hope see Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Thess.

1:3."-

SDA Bible Commentary,

on Rom. 15:4.

What is the relation between

faith and hope, according to the

writer of the book of Hebrews? Heb.

11:1.

Nom.-Faith and hope are inseparable.

The stronger the faith the brighter the

hope. Through a living faith our fond

hopes will be realized. "By faith the Chris-

[14]

tian considers himself already in posses-

sion of what has been promised him. His

utter confidence in the One who has made

the promises leaves no uncertainty as to

their fulfillment in due time. Faith thus

enables a Christian not only to lay claim

to promised blessings but to receive and

to enjoy them now. Thus, the promised

inheritance becomes a present possession.

The good things to come are no longer

only dreams to be fulfilled in the future,

but living realities in the present. To the

eye of faith what is otherwise invisible

becomes visible."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on Heb. 11:1.

The Hope in God

By what event in the life of

Jesus Christ are we "begotten again

unto a lively hope"? 1 Peter 1:3.

Compare Acts 26:6-8; Isa. 26:19.

NOTE.—Our hope rests upon a past fact,

that of the resurrection of Christ. The one

real proof that when we paint heaven we

are not painting myth is the fact that

Christ rose from the dead.

"In Christ is life, original, unborrowed,

underived. 'He that hath the Son bath

life.' . . . The divinity of Christ is the

believer's assurance of eternal life. 'He that

believeth in Me,' said Jesus, 'though he

were dead, yet shall he live: and whoso-

ever liveth and believeth in Me shall never

die.'

"—The Desire of Ages,

page 530.

"The voice that cried from the cross,

`It is finished,' was heard among the

dead. It pierced the walls of sepulchers,

and summoned the sleepers to arise. Thus

will it be when the voice of Christ shall be

heard from heaven. That voice will pene-

trate the graves and unbar the tombs,

and the dead in Christ shall arise. At the

Saviour's resurrection a few graves were

opened, but at His second coming all the

precious dead shall hear His voice, and

shall come forth to glorious immortal life.

The same power that raised Christ from

the dead will raise His church, and glorify

it with Him, above all principalities, above

all powers, above every name that is

named, not only in this world, but also in

the world to come."—/bid., p. 787.

With what is the hope of the

Christian compared? Heb. 6:17-19.

NoTE.—One of the important and neces-

sary parts of the equipment of a ship is its

anchor. It must be able to function in an

emergency. It must not fail to hold. As

Christians are confronted by the storms of

life, they have an anchor that will hold;

it is "both sure and steadfast." This an-

chor is our hope in Jesus. He will keep

us through all the storms and secure us

in the harbor of eternal calm.

With what does Paul connect

hope, and what does he call it?

Titus

2 : 1 3 .

NOTE

.—"Blessed hope.

The hope of

Christ's return has been the grand in-

centive of the Christian faith for nearly

2,000 years, buoying the believer's spirit

and steeling his courage amid all vicissi-

tudes of life. The dark moments of dis-

couragement, disillusionments, or sorrow

in this life's experience are gloriously com-

pensated for by the Christian's hope of

the second advent."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on Titus 2:13.

What Hope Does for Us

What words of inspiration come

to those who hope in the Lord? Ps.

31:24.

NOTE.—"Ps. 31 is a heartfelt prayer for

deliverance from trouble, enlivened by a

sincere trust in God's ability to deliver. It

is characterized by a galaxy of rich figures

describing the distress of the persecuted

and the hope that comes in time of trou-

ble."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

introduc-

tion to Psalm 31.

"Hope in the Lord.

Literally, 'wait for

the Lord.' Hoping and waiting go hand in

hand along the Christian way. Hope is a

tonic to Christian experience."—Ibid., on

Ps. 31:24.

10.

According to the psalmist, how

does hope affect the life? Ps. 146:5.

NOTE.—"Hope is the balm of life and the

joy of existence. It buoys our spirits up

as we meet with trials and sorrows along

the

way."—SDA Bible Commentary,

Ps. 146:5.

[ 15]

Where there is hope there is joy and

happiness. When hope goes, worry sets in.

Worry takes the joy out of life. Life at

best is soon cut off. How stupid to cripple

it with worry when heaven and earth and

God cry, "Hope." It is good to know that

Christ, our hope, is master of all our

problems. With Him in the life hope grows

stronger and brighter day by day.

11.

What change is wrought in the

life of the one who hopes to see his

Lord face to face? 1 John 3:2, 3.

NOTE.—"John was a teacher of holiness,

and in his letters to the church he laid

down unerring rules for the conduct—of

Christians. . . . 'He that saith hCabidet

in Him ought himself also so to wilkTe en

as He walked.' . . . He taught that the

Christian must be pure in heart and life.

Never should he be satisfied with an empty

profession. As God is holy in His sphere,

so fallen man, through faith in Christ, is

to be holy in his sphere."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

page 559.

12.

What does Joel say that the

Lord will be to His people when "the

heavens and the earth shall shake"?

Joel 3:16.

NOTE.—"Hope.

Heb.

machaseh,

'a ref-

uge,' a shelter.' Judgment upon the enemies

of Judah means deliverance for the people

of God. Thus it will be when the wicked

powers of earth, under the influence of

Satan, seek to destroy the faithful remnant

(Rev. 13:15). God will intervene to de-

liver His people."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on Joel 3:16.

13.

What is said of the righteous

when he faces death? Prov. 14:32.

Compare 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

NOTE.—"Precious in the sight of the

Lord is the death of His saints." Ps.

116:15. "The righteous bath hope in his

death." Prov. 14:32. With the psalmist,

Elisha could say in confidence, "God will

redeem my soul from the power of the

grave: for He shall receive me." Ps. 49:15.

And with rejoicing he could testify, "I

know that my Redeemer liveth, and that

He shall stand at the latter day upon

the earth." Job 19:25. "As for me, I will

behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall

be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy like-

ness." Ps. 17:15.

Because of this wonderful hope of the

Christian, "Satan is ready to steal away

the blessed assurances of God. He desires

to take every glimmer of hope and every

ray of light from the soul; but we must

not permit him to do

this."—Steps to

Christ,

page 53.

Thought for Meditation

The Christian's hope is like a staff. When

we walk with it, we shall manage to keep

despairing thoughts from our lives.

Lesson 5, for August 2, 1969

"Follow After . . . Patience"

MEMORY VERSE:

"But thou,

0 man of God, flee these things; and follow after

righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." 1 Tim. 6:11.

STUDY HELPS:

"The Acts of the Apostles," pages 529-538; "SDA Bible Commen-

tary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD



Check Here



Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;



Wednesday: Questions 11, 12; read

learn memory verse.



❑



further from helps.



❑

Sunday: Questions 1-5.



❑



Thursday: Finish reading study

Monday: Questions 6-8.



❑



helps.



❑

Tuesday: Questions 9, 10; begin



Friday: Review entire lesson.



❑

reading study helps.



❑

[ 16 ]

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. The Need of Patience

Because of the nearness of Christ's

coming. James 5:7, 8.

Patience makes us fruitful.

Luke 8:15.

In the lives of God's people.

1 Tim. 6:11; Heb. 10:36.

Patience leads to perfection.

James 1:2-4.

To win in the Christian race.

Heb. 12:1, 2.

II. Aids in the Development of Patience

6. Self-control and full surrender

to God. 1 Cor. 9:25-27.

7. Spiritual growth. 2 Peter 1:5-7.

8. Trials and tribulations.

Rom. 5:3-5.

III. Examples of Patience

9. Moses. Num. 12:3.

10. The prophets and Job.

James 5:10, 11.

IV. Patience and the Second Coming

11. Distinguishing characteristics of

the redeemed. Rev. 14:12 (first

part).

12. Pilgrims at last rewarded.

Isa. 25:9.

THE LESSON

"Look up, look up, and let your faith

continually increase. Let this faith guide

you along the narrow path that leads

through the gates of the city into the

great beyond, the wide, unbounded future

of glory that is for the redeemed. 'Be

patient therefore, brethren, unto the com-

ing of the Lord.'

"-Prophets and Kings,

page 732.

Introduction

"Patience is the quality of steadfast en-

durance, in confident expectation of some

desired end, despite difficult, discouraging,

and disappointing circumstances, and often

suffering. . . . In view of the fact that

`we must through much tribulation enter

into the kingdom of God' . . . and particu-

larly because entrance into the coming

kingdom of glory involves a prolonged

period of waiting, patience or steadfast

endurance becomes a cardinal Christian

virtue. . . . Patience ever reminds us that

`the sufferings of this present time are not

worthy to be compared with the glory

which shall be revealed.'

"-SDA Bible

Dictionary,

on "Patience," page 818.

The Need of Patience

1. Because of the nearness of the

coming of the Lord, what does James

advise us to do? James 5:7, 8.

NOTE.

-"Be

patient.

In view of the ulti-

mate vindication of the righteous at the

return of Christ, James urges his fellow

believers to be long-suffering under prov-

ocation and not lose their courage. The

perspective of the shortness of earth's

troubles compared with the unending joy

of eternal life has always been a source

of encouragement to the upright in heart."

-SDA Bible Commentary,

on James 5:7.

What does the seed of God's

Word do when it falls into an honest,

patient heart? Luke 8:15.

To whom is the command "Fol-

low after . . . patience" especially

directed? 1 Tim. 6:11; Heb. 10:36.

Nom.-The admonition to "follow after

. . . patience" was not given to a sinner,

but to Timothy, a "man of God." If it

was good for him then, it must be good

for us today, for we are living in an im-

patient age. These are days that try the

souls of men. While world conditions seem

to be beyond control, they should not

discourage us, but rather inspire us to

follow after patience. To us God says,

"Ye have need of patience. . . . For yet a

little while, and He that shall come will

come, and will not tarry." Heb. 10:36, 37.

17]

What does James say the ulti-

mate result of patience will be in our

lives? James 1:2-4.

NoTE.—The expression "perfect work"

means "completed work." Patient •endur-

ance is to be continued until it has

completed its task. Regarding the words

"perfect and entire" we read: "Not a

single desirable character trait is to be

lacking; each is to be developed to per-

fection. These two words together suggest

the fullest possible attainment of the Christ-

like life. Patient endurance will help us to

fulfill this task of reproducing the char-

acter of Christ, which is the 'work' God

has given us to

do."—SDA Bible Com-

mentary,

on James 1:4.

What admonition are we to heed

if we hope to win in the Christian

race? Heb. 12:1, 2.

NOTE

.—"Patience.

Gr.

hupomone,

'pa-

tience,' 'endurance ,"fortitude,'steadfast-

ness,' perseverance.' Because the Christian

race is a lifelong experience, it calls for

patience and perseverance—perseverance in

the face of successive difficulties and dis-

appointments and patience to await the

reward at the end of the course. Admoni-

tions to patient endurance occur again and

again in the book of Hebrews."—SDA

Bi-

ble Commentary,

on Heb. 12:1.

"In the epistle to the Hebrews is pointed

out the single-hearted purpose that should

characterize the Christian's race for eternal

life: 'Let us lay aside every weight, and

the sin which doth so easily beset us, and

let us run with patience the race that is

set before us, looking unto Jesus the

author and finisher of our faith.' Hebrews

12:1, 2. Envy, malice, evil thinking, evil-

speaking, covetousness—these are weights

that the Christian must lay aside if he

would run successfully the race for im-

mortality. Every habit or practice that

leads into sin and brings dishonor upon

Christ must be put away, whatever the

sacrifice. The blessing of heaven cannot

attend any man in violating the eternal

principles of right. One sin cherished is

sufficient to work degradation of char-

acter and to mislead others."—The

Acts

of the Apostles,

page 312.

Aids in the Development

of Patience

What did Paul do in order to

win in the Christian race? 1 Cor. 9:

25-27.

NOTE.—"Every athlete practices self-re-

straint all round." 1 Cor. 9:25, Moffatt.

The King James Version is, "And every

man that striveth for the mastery is tem-

perate in all things." Both words "self-

restraint" and "temperate" require much

patience. To win in the Christian race

Paul taught self-control and complete sur-

render when he said, "I keep under my

body, and bring it into subjection."

"In referring to these races as a figure

of the Christian warfare, Paul emphasized

the preparation necessary to the success

of the contestants in the race—the pre-

liminary discipline, the abstemious diet, the

necessity for temperance. 'Every man that

striveth for the mastery,' he declared, 'is

temperate in all things.' The runners put

aside every indulgence that would tend to

weaken the physical powers, and by severe

and continuous discipline trained their mus-

cles to strength and endurance, that when

the day of the contest should arrive, they

might put the heaviest tax upon their

powers. How much more important that

the Christian whose eternal interests are

at stake, bring appetite and passion under

subjection to reason and the will of God!

Never must he allow his attention to

be diverted by amusements, luxuries, or

ease. All his habits and passions must be

brought under the strictest discipline. Rea-

son, enlightened by the teachings of God's

Word and guided by His Spirit, must hold

the reins of control."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

page 311.

In what setting does Peter place

the virtue of patience? 2 Peter 1:5-7.

NOTE.—"These words are full of instruc-

tion, and strike the keynote of victory.

[18]

The apostle presents before the believers

the ladder of Christian progress, every step

of which represents advancement in the

knowledge of God, and in the climbing of

which there is to be no -standstill. Faith,

virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience,

godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity

are the rounds of the ladder. We are saved

by climbing round after round, mounting

step after step, to the height of Christ's

ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us

wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctifica-

tion, and redemption."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

page 530.

Why are we admonished to glory

in tribulation? Rom. 5:3-5. Compare

1 Peter 4:12, 13.

NoTE.—The early Christians were called

upon to endure various forms of persecu-

tion. They suffered intensely. They were

not promised any exemption from sorrow.

Paul said, "We' must through much trib-

ulation enter into the kingdom of God."

Acts 14:22.

"In the natural man, who has not been

born again of the Holy Spirit, tribulation,

delay, and opposition often produce only

impatience, or even a surrender of the good

cause he may have espoused. . . . But in

those who are spiritual, and thus under

the influence of the Spirit of love, affliction

and trial produce more perfect patience and

manly endurance."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on Rom. 5:3.

Examples of Patience

What was one of the outstand-

ing characteristics in the life of

Moses? Num. 12:3.

NOTE.—"It was the experience gained

during the years of toil and waiting in

Midian—the spirit of humility and long-

suffering there developed—that prepared

Moses to meet with patience the unbelief

and murmuring of the people and the pride

and envy of those who should have been

his unswerving helpers. Moses 'was very

meek, above all the men which were upon

the face of the earth,' and this is why he

was granted divine wisdom- and guidance

above all others."—Patriarchs

and Proph-

ets,

page 384..

10.

Whom .does James cite as ex-

amples of patience? James 5:10, 11.

NOTE.—"Patience. . . .

As the example

of the suffering of the prophets should

prevent our discouragement, the example

of their patience should likewise encourage

us to be patient."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on James 5:10.

Patience and the Second Coming•

11.

At the coming of Christ what

will be one of the outstanding char-

acteristics in the lives of His remnant

people? Rev. 14:12 (first part).

12.

What will those who have

waited patiently for the coming of

Jesus say when He appears? Isa. 25:9.

NOTE.—"To his faithful followers Christ

has been a daily companion and familiar

friend. They have lived in close contact, in

constant communion.with God. Upon them

the glory of the Lord has risen. In them the

light of the knowledge of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ has been re-

flected. Now they rejoice in the undimmed

rays of the brightness and glory

of the

King in His majesty. They are prepared

for the communion of heaven; for they

have heaven in their hearts.

"With uplifted heads, with the bright'

beams of the Sun of Righteousness shining

upon them, with rejoicing that their re-

demption 'draweth nigh, they go forth to

meet the Bridegroom, saying, To, this is

our God; we have waited for Him, and

He will save

us.' "—Christ's Object Les-

sons,

page 421.

Thought for Meditation

Waiting patiently helps 'us to know the

will of God more perfectly. There are

times when God says to us: "Be silent, be

patient, and believe that your tears are

not unnoticed."

[,19.]

Lesson 6, for August 9, 1969

"Love Your Enemies"

MEMORY VERSE: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse

you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully

use you, and persecute you." Matt. 5:44.

STUDY HELPS: "Christ's Object Lessons," pages 185-197; "Thoughts From the

Mount of Blessing," 1956 ed., pp. 73-75 (1943 ed., pp. 113-115); "SDA Bible

Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.

Sunday: Questions 1-4.

Monday: Questions 5-7; begin

reading from study helps.



Tuesday: Questions 8-10.



Check Here

Wednesday: Questions 11-13; read

further from helps.



❑

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Introduction

"While we were yet unloving and un-

lovely in character, 'hateful, and hating

one another,' our heavenly Father had

mercy on us. 'After that the kindness and

love of God our Saviour toward man ap-

peared, not by works of righteousness

which we have done, but according to His

mercy He saved us.' . . . His love, received,

will make us, in like manner, kind and

tender, not merely toward those who please

us, but to the most faulty and erring and

sinful."-Thoughts From the Mount of

Blessing,

page 75.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. The Command to Love Our Enemies

Contrary to human nature.

Rom. 8:7.

Not a new commandment.

Lev. 19:18; Deut. 10:17-19.

For God's people today.

John 13:34; Luke 6:27-29.

Lack of love in time of the end

prophesied. 2 Tim. 3:1, 2 (first

part) ; Matt. 24:12.

II. Those Who Hate Are Earmarked

5. They walk in darkness.

1 John 2:9, 11.

6. They are not truthful.

1 John 4:20.

7. They are murderers. 1 John 3:15.

III. The Love That Loves the Enemy

8. Heaven-born. John 3:16; 1 John

4:9.

9. A fruit of the Spirit.

Rom.

5:5;

Gal. 5:22.

10. The outgrowth of forgiveness.

Luke 7:47.

IV. Examples of Those Who Loved

Their Enemies

11. Christ. Luke 23:34.

12. Stephen. Acts 7:55-60.

13. Paul. 2 Cor. 2:4-8.

THE LESSON

The Command to Love Our

Enemies

1. What does Paul say about the

unconverted, carnal mind? Rom. 8:7.

NOTE.

-The

command, "Love your en-

emies," is not easy to carry out. Humanly

speaking it is impossible because the nat-

ural feeling of the heart is, "an eye for an

eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Matt. 5:38.

But the Christlike way is, "Love your

[20

]

enemies." He treated us this way, and He

bids us to follow in His footsteps.

"The Spirit of love, meekness, and for-

bearance pervading our life will have power

to soften and subdue hard hearts and win

to Christ bitter opposers of the

faith."—

Testimonies,

Vol. 5, p. 174.

What did God bid ancient Israel

to do? Lev. 19:18; Deut. 10:17-19.

NOTE.—"Thou shalt not avenge.

It is

human weakness to desire to 'get even'

with one who has done us harm, but the

Bible countenances no such procedure. Says

Paul, 'Dearly beloved, avenge not your-

selves, but rather give place unto wrath'

(Rom. 12:19). To bear a grudge is quite

useless. It does no one good, and does

the bearer much harm. It sours the dis-

position, and gives a warped view of life.

"Love thy neighbor.

In this injunction

are summed up the last six of the com-

mandments. . . . Said Christ, 'Ye have

heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt

love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies.'"

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Lev. 19:18.

What great example of love did

Christ leave us, and what does He

bid us to do? John

13:34;

Luke 6:

27-29.

NOTE.—Many

believe that the new com-

mandment is, "Love thy neighbor as thy-

self." This is an old commandment. Lev.

19:18. The new commandment is one of

special, of unusual love. It is expressed in

the words, "As I have loved you." This

love could not be understood before the

cross.

The new commandment has not re-

placed the Ten Commandment law. The

law is as eternal as God because it is a

revelation of His character. The new com-

mandment supports the perpetuity of God's

law. Jesus said, "If ye keep My command-

ments, ye shall abide in My love [as I have

loved you] ; even as I have kept My Fa-

ther's commandments, and abide in His

love." John 15:10. The best proof for the

perpetuity of the law of God is found in

the statement, "As I have loved you," or

the death of Christ. If the law could have

been changed or done away with, then

the death of Christ would not have been

necessary.

What is one of the signs of the

last days? 2 Tim.

3:1, 2 (first part);

Matt. 24:12.

NoTE.—" 'A new commandment I give

unto you,' Christ said, 'That ye love one

another; as I have loved you, that ye also

love one another.' John 13:34. What a

wonderful statement; but, oh, how poorly

practiced! In the church of God today

brotherly love is sadly lacking. Many who

profess to love the Saviour do not love

one another. Unbelievers are watching to

see if the

--faith

of_professed Christians is

exertink-a_sanctifyi0 influence upon their

lives; and they are quick to discern the

defects in character, the inconsistencies in

action. Let Christians not make it possible

for the enemy to point to them and say,

Behold how these people, standing under the

banner of Christ, hate one another. Chris-

tians are all members of one family, all

children of the same heavenly Father, with

the same blessed hope of immortality. Very

close and tender should be the tie that

binds them together."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

page 550.

Those Who Hate Are Earmarked

What is an evidence that we

walk in darkness? 1 John

2:9,

11.

NOTE.—"Nothing

is said about the de-

gree of hatred. It can exist as a state of

passive "nonloving," as an active dislike, or

as a malignant hate that seeks to harm

its object. The slightest trace of hatred is

sufficient to show that the God of love

does not have full sway in the heart."—

SDA Bible Commentary,

on 1 John 2:9.

"Darkness. . . .

He who claims spiritual

enlightenment yet harbors hatred for a

fellow believer clearly-demonstrates that

he is dwelling in 'spiritual dackness even

'until now,' that is,'"at---the-ve'ry moment

he makes the false claim."—Ibid.

In the sight of the Lord, who is

looked upon as a liar? 1 John

4:20.

[

213

NoTE.—"I love God.

It is easy to make

such a verbal claim, but the apostle shows

that it is no less easy to test the truth of

the claim. Verbal profession is natural

and necessary . . . , but it is not sufficient.

It needs to be corroborated by the pro-

fessor's attitude toward his fellowmen. An

examination of the quality of a man's love

for his brethren will reveal much concern-

ing the genuineness of his love for God.

"Hateth his brother.

John clearly shows

what he means by 'hate' when he equates

it with `loveth not' in the second half of

the verse. Elsewhere in the Bible, hatred

often implies no more than preferring

oneself above another, or loving another

less than one should. . . .

"A liar.

John gives a plain test by which

we can know whether we love God. If we

fail in the test, but still claim to have

passed it, we are indeed deliberate liars."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on 1 John 4:20.

What does John say about the

one who hates his brother, and what

are his chances of inheriting eternal

life? 1 John 3:15.

NOTE.—"Hateth.

Comparison with v. 14

shows that `hateth' is synonymous with

'loveth not.' Absence of love marks the

presence of hate. In God's eyes there is

evidently no neutral ground.

"Murderer.

Gr.

anthropoktonos,

literally,

`man-killer.' The word occurs in the NT

only here and in John 8:44. John strikingly

points out the end result of hatred. There

are other ways of killing a man than by

physical violence that takes his life. Slan-

der can so dishearten him as to prevent

him from fully developing his innate abil-

ities, and thus is destroyed part of the life

he might have led. The very conscious-

ness of being disliked by church members

of good reputation is enough to quench

the ardor of some and may even cause

them to lose their faith in Christ, and

thus destroy their spiritual lives."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on 1 John 3:15.

The Love that Loves the Enemy

What act reveals that true love

is heaven-born? John 3:16; 1 John

4:9.

Nare.—" 'Seeing •ye have purified your

souls in obeying the truth through the

Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,'

Peter continued, 'see that ye love •one an-

other with. a pure heart fervently.' The

Word of God—the truth—is the channel

Fough---which the Lord manifests His

Spirit and power. Obedience to the Word

produces fruit of the required quality—

`unfeigned love of the brethren.' This love

is heaven-barn and leads to high motives

and unselfish actions."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

pages 519, 520.

Through what agency is the love

of God supplied? Rom. 5:5; 'Gal.

5:22.

NOTE.—"God's law is fulfilled _only as

men love Him with heart, mind, soul,

and strength, and their neighbor as them-

selves. It is the manifestation of this love

that brings glory to God in the highest, and

on earth peace and good will to men. The

Lord is glorified when the great end of

His law is attained. It is the work of the

Holy Spirit from age to age to impart

love to human hearts, for love is the living

principle of brotherhood."—Testimonies,

Vol. 8, p. 139.

"Wherever there is an impulse of love

and sympathy, wherever the heart reaches

out to bless and uplift others, there is

revealed the working of God's Holy Spirit."

—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 385.

10.

What is the result of genuine

forgiveness? Luke 7:47.

NoTE.—Concerning the parable of the

lost and found we read, "Though you will

not join in the greeting to the lost, the

joy will go on, the restored one will have

his place by the Father's side and in the

Father's work. He that is forgiven much,

the same loves much. But you will be in

the darkness without. For 'he that loveth

not knoweth not God: for God is love.'"

—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 211.

"We are not forgiven

because

we forgive,

but

we forgive. The ground of all for-

giveness is found in the unmerited love of

God, but by our attitude toward others

we show whether we have made that love

our own., Wherefore Christ says, 'With

[ 22 ]

what judgment ye judge, ye shall be

judged; and with what measure ye mete,

it shall be measured to you again.'

"—Ibid.,.

p. 251.

Examples of Those Who Loved

Their Enemies

11.

On what special occasion did

Christ reveal. His love of His enemies?

Luke 23:34. Compare Rom. 5:6-10.

NOTE.—"Yet

sinners.

There was nothing

in -man to deserve God's love. The hypo-

thetical 'good man' of v. 7 was benevolent

and loveable and inspired affection. But

the love that God exercised toward, us was

not a response to any love we had for

Him, for we were His enemies. 'Herein is

love, not that we loved God, but that He

loved

us.' "—SDA Bible Commentary,

Rom. 5:8.

12.

What was Stephen's attitude

toward those who were his enemies?

Acts 7:55-60.

13.

What attitude did Paul show

toward those who deserved punish-

ment? 2 Cor. 2:4-8.

NoTE.—"Successful dealing with sinners

is not achieved by bitter denunciation, by

ridicule or sarcasm, by making public their

sins. What these harsh weapons cannot

accomplish may be done by affectionate

concern, with 'many tears.' The unfortu-

nate spectacle of a church member falling

into sin awakens anguish and distress in

the mind of every true follower of Christ.

Godly concern and Christlike love unite

the church and prevent differences of opin-

ion concerning those disciplined."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on 2 Cor. 2:4.

Thought for Meditation

We are true children of God not be-

cause we know most, but because we love

most.

Lesson. 7, for August 16, 1969

"Judge Not"

MEMORY VERSE: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matt. 7:1.

STUDY HELPS: "Christ's Object Lessons," pages 164-180; "Thoughts From the

Mount of Blessing," 1956 ed., pp. 123-129 (1943 ed., pp. 177-185); "SDA

Bible Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.

Sunday: Questions 1-4.

Monday: Questions 5-8.

Tuesday: Questions 9, 10; begin

reading from study helps.



❑

Check Here

Wednesday: Questions 11, 12; read

further from helps.



❑

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. Judging Others

1. Condemned by Christ. Matt.

7:1,

Condemns and reveals one's self.

Rom. 2:1.

Places us on the side of Satan.

Rev. 12:10.

Makes talebearers and spiritual

cannibals out of us. Lev. 19:15,

16;

Gal. 5:15.

[ 23 ]

II. The Work of Judging

Belongs to God. Heb. 12:23.

God judges righteously. Acts 17:

30, 31; 2 Tim. 4:8.

God judges our words. Matt.

12:36, 37.

According to the law of God.

James 2:10-12 ; Eccl. 12:13, 14.

III. Cures for Judging Others

Christ within the heart.

Gal. 6:1.

10.

True love. John 15:12, 17.

11.

Keeping in mind that we are

judgment-bound. Rom. 14:10,

12, 13.

12.

Seeing the beam in our own eyes.

Matt. 7:3-5.

THE LESSON

Introduction

"If we have a sense of the long-suffering

of God toward us, we shall not be found

judging or accusing others. When Christ

was living on the earth, how surprised His

associates would have been, if, after be-

coming acquainted with Him, they had

heard Him speak one word of accusation,

of faultfinding, or of impatience. Let us

never forget that those who love Him are

to represent Him in character.

"Be kindly affectioned one to another

with brotherly love; in honor preferring

one another.' Not rendering evil for evil,

or railing for railing: but contrariwise bless-

ing; knowing that ye are thereunto called,

that ye should inherit a blessing.'

"—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 489.

Judging Others

What warning does Christ give

to those who judge? Matt. 7:1, 2.

NOTE. "Judge

not.

Jesus here refers

particularly to judging another's motives,

not to judging the right or wrong of his

acts. God alone is competent to judge men's

motives, because of the fact that He alone

is able to read men's innermost thoughts.

. . . Looking thus on men's hearts, God

loves the sinner the while He hates the

sin. Able to discern only the 'outward ap-

pearance' . . . and not the heart, men in-

evitably make mistakes. Jesus does not

here refer to that fine sense of discrimina-

tion by which the Christian is to dis-

tinguish between right and wrong . . . ,

but rather to the habit of censorious,

sharp, and usually unjust criticism."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Matt. 7:1.

What are we generally guilty of

when we judge others? Rom. 2:1.

NoTE.—"Those who condemn or criti-

cize others, proclaim themselves guilty, for

they do the same things. In condemning

others, they are passing sentence upon

themselves, and God declares that this

sentence is just. He accepts their own ver-

dict against themselves."—Thoughts

From

the Mount of Blessing,

page 124.

With whom do we associate our-

selves when we sit in judgment over

others? Rev. 12:10. Compare Zech.

3:1-3.

NOTE.—"Satan has many helpers. Many

who profess to be Christians are aiding

the tempter to catch away the seeds of

truth from other hearts. Many who listen

to the preaching of the Word of God

make it the subject of criticism at home.

They sit in judgment on the sermon as they

would on the words of a lecturer or a

political speaker. The message that should

be regarded as the word of the Lord to

them is dwelt upon with trifling or sar-

castic comment. The minister's character,

motives, and actions, and the conduct of

fellow members of the church, are freely

discussed. Severe judgment is pronounced,

gossip or slander repeated, and this in the

hearing of the unconverted. Often these

things are spoken by parents in the hear-

ing of their own children."—Christ's

Ob-

ject Lessons,

pages 45, 46.

Why are we admonished not to

be talebearers or to devour one an-

other? Lev. 19:15, 16; Gal. 5:15.

NOTE.—"Bite and devour one another.

A vivid metaphor that paints a

picture

of cannibalism. The Galatians

were con-

[24]

ducting themselves like wild, ravenous

beasts. By word and deed they were

preying upon one another. Activities such

as gossip, slander, and sharp dealing are

no doubt included.

"Consumed one of another.

Church his-

tory records the sad fate of one religious

group after another in which Paul's fateful

warning was fulfilled. The unity of the faith,

and the unity of believers within the unity

of the faith, was the subject of our Lord's

prayer recorded in John 17. With such a

condition prevailing as that here described

by Paul, no Christian group can enjoy a

healthy religious experience."—SDA

Bible

Commentary,

on Gal. 5:15.

The Work of Judging

Who is to be the judge of man's

work? Heb. 12:23.

NoTE.—"It is not given to any human

being to judge between the different ser-

vants of God. The Lord alone is the judge

of man's work, and He will give to each

his just reward."—The

Acts of the Apos-

tles,

page 276.

"God was the lawgiver at Mt. Sinai; on

Mt. Zion He appears as 'the Judge of all'

men, to judge them by the law He pro-

claimed from Sinai. It will be no less awe

inspiring to stand before God when He

judges all men according to the standard

of the

law."—SDA Bible Commentary,

Heb. 12:23.

Whom has Ged appointed to do

the judging? Acts 17:30, 31; 2 Tim.

4:8.

NOTE.—"Before any can enter the man-

sions of the blessed, their cases must be

investigated, and their characters and their

deeds must pass in review before God. All

are to be judged according to the things

written in the books and to be rewarded as

their works have been. This judgment does

not take place at death. Mark the words of

Paul: 'He bath appointed a day, in the

which He will judge the world in righ-

teousness by that Man whom He hath

ordained, whereof He hath given assurance

unto all men, in that He hath raised Him

from the dead.' . . . Here the apostle

plainly stated that a specified time, then

future, had been fixed upon for the judg-

ment of the world."—The

Great Contro-

versy,

page 548.

What does Jesus say concerning

the judging of our words? Matt. 12:

36, 37. Compare Prov. 18:21.

What- will be the measuring rod

when our lives are judged by God?

James 2:10-12; Eccl. 12:13, 14.

Cures for Judging Others

In dealing with the faults of

others, what should be our attitude?

Gal. 6:1.

NOTE.—"If Christ is in you 'the hope of

glory,' you will have no disposition to

watch others, to expose their errors. In-

stead of seeking to accuse and condemn,

it will be your object to help, to bless,

and to save. In dealing with those who

are in error, you will heed the injunction,

Consider 'thyself, lest thou also be tempted.'

. . . You will call to mind the many

times you have erred and how hard it

has been to find the right way when you

had once left it. You will not push your

brother into greater darkness, but with a

heart full of pity you will tell him of his

danger."—Thoughts From the Mount of

Blessing,

page 128.

10.

What does Jesus say that our

relationship should be to each other?

John 15:12, 17. Compare 1 Peter 4:8.

NoTE.—One of the best cures for judging

others is expressed in the word "love."

Love and kindness are inseparable twins.

When these are in the heart, the spirit of

judging vanishes.

True love never judges unjustly, it does

not see the faults and failures in others.

Our love for each other is to be different

from the love displayed by the Pharisees.

Christ's requirements are always plus re-

quirements. If our lives are destitute of

Christ's divine love, then we do not know

Him as we should. Let us remember that

[ 25 ]

the spirit of judging, of condemning, is

not the spirit that prays, "Abba, Father."

Only the spirit of love can do that.

11. What should we always re-

member when we are prone to judge

others? Rom. 14:10, 12, 13.

NoTE.—That judging which the Bible

prohibits is that which is done in a harsh

and condemnatory spirit. The Lord does

not forbid the exercise of sound judgment

in dealing with others. It is said of one

man's experience that "there has been a

failure to read character. He believed others

to be as honest as himself, and in some

cases he has been

deceived."—Testimonies,

Vol.

2, p. 630. Your safety and that of

others calls for the exercise of good judg-

ment.

We often have to make decisions that

concern other persons, and to do that we

must evaluate and judge whether this or

that is the right thing to do in each case.

We have been warned to "try the spirits

whether they are of God: because many

false prophets are gone out into the world."

1 John 4:1. Proposals for marriage, re-

quests for baptism, nominaticns for church

offices, calls for church discipline, employ-

ment of persons for gospel work and secular

work, election and appointment of persons

for service in the civil government, the trial

of the accused in courts of justice, and

many other things call for the exercise of

good judgment concerning the mental, phy-

sical, and moral aptitudes, qualifications,

and intentions of individuals. In every case

the judging should be just and in the spirit

of the golden rule (Matt. 7:12), but not

in a harsh and condemnatory spirit that

would drive anybody nearer damnation.

"We shall all stand.

In the Greek the

word for 'all' is in the position of emphasis.

All of us, both weak and strong, are to

stand before the divine tribunal. Since all

believers are alike subjects and servants of

God, and must all stand before the same

judgment seat, they have no right to sit

in judgment on one another. Such judging

usurps a prerogative of God."—SDA

Bible

Commentary,

on Rom. 14:10.

12. Before attempting to judge

others, what should we do first? Matt.

7:3-5.

NOTE.-"Why

beholdest thou? . . .

Our

proverb, 'Those who live ih glass houses

should not throw stones,' has a similar im-

port. There is also an Arabic proverb that

runs, 'How seest thou the splinter in thy

brother's eye, and seest not the cross-beam

in thine

eye?'—SDA Bible Commentary,

Matt. 7:3.

"But the difficulty lies with the individual

members of the church, and it is here that

the cure must be wrought. Jesus bids the

accuser first cast the beam out of his

own eye, renounce his censorious spirit,

confess and forsake his own sin, before

trying to correct others."—Thoughts

From

the Mount of Blessing,

page 127.

Thought for Meditation

Those who judge others labor in vain,

they err often and sin easily; but when

they judge and examine themselves, their

labor will not be in vain.

Lesson 8, for August 23, 1969

"Watch Unto Prayer"

MEMORY VERSE:

"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the

house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the

morning." Mark 13:35.

STUDY HELPS:

"The Great Controversy," chapter 32; "SDA Bible Commentary."

[261

learn memory verse.

❑

Sunday: Questions 1-4.

❑

Monday: Questions 5-8.

❑

Tuesday: Questions 9, 10; begin

reading study helps.

❑

read further from

helps.



Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here



Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;



Wednesday: Questions 11, 12;

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. The Command to Watch

Addressed to whole church.

Mark 13:37.

To be observed with diligence.

Eph. 6:18.

To be accompanied by prayer.

Col. 4:2.

To be combined with service.

Rev. 3:2.

II. Reasons for Watching and Praying

5. Nearness of Christ's coming.

1 Peter 4:7.

Satan is on our trail. 1 Peter 5:8.

A bulwark against temptation.

Matt. 26:41.

Because of apostasies and decep-

tions. Acts 20:29-31.

To escape the evils to come.

Luke 21:36..

10.

To protect ourselves and the

doctrines. 1 Tim. 4:16.

III. Two Classes When Christ Comes

11.

The careless, indifferent, and

unprepared. Luke 12:45, 46.

12.

Those who have watched unto

prayer and are ready.

Luke 12:35-37; 1 John 3:3.

THE LESSON

you sleeping.' The church of God is re-

quired to fulfill her night watch, however

perilous, whether long or short. Sorrow is

no excuse for her to be less watchful. Trib-

ulation should not lead to carelessness, but

to double vigilance. Christ has directed

the church by His own example to the

Source of their strength in times of need,

distress, and peril. The attitude of watch-

ing is to designate the church as God's

people indeed. By this sign the waiting ones

are distinguished from the world and show

that they are pilgrims and strangers upon

the

earth."—Testimonies,

Vol. 2, p. 205.

Introduction

In the thirteenth chapter of Mark where

the words, "Watch ye therefore," are re-

corded, Jesus, talking to His disciples, fore-

tells the destruction of the temple. He

warns them against the danger of being

deceived and tells them how they will be

hated for the sake of the gospel that is

to go to all the world. Verses 24 and 25 de-

scribe the signs that indicate the nearness

of His return. At the close of the chapter

He tells us that no one knows the day or

the hour of His return, not even He or the

angels, but only the Father. Because of this

He gives the warning, "Watch ye therefore."

And why should we watch? "Lest coming

suddenly He find you sleeping."

The Command to Watch

1. How inclusive did Christ make

the command to watch? Mark 13:37.

NOTE.—"Jesus has left us this warning:

`Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when

the Master of the house cometh, at even, or

at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in

the morning: lest coming suddenly He find

2. How diligent are we to be in

our watchfulness and prayer? Eph.

6:18.

NOTE.—"Perseverance in prayer is not for

the purpose, by sheer persistence, of mak-

ing God change His mind, in some such

fashion as a begging child finally extracts

what he wants from an unwilling parent.

Perseverance in prayer, however, clearly in-

dicates on the part of the suppliant a state

of mind that gives God an opportunity to

[27l'

do things He could not safely do for him

otherwise."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

Eph. 6:18.

What is the apostle Paul's ad-

monition to the church regarding

prayer? Col. 4:2. Compare 1 Thess.

5:2-6.

In addition to being watchful,

what does God tell us to do? Rev.

3:2. Compare Isa. 35:3, 4.

NoTE.—The importance of doing mission-

ary work is expressed clearly to all. God

calls every church member to enter His

-service. "Everyone who is added to the

ranks by conversion is to be assigned his

post of

duty."—Testimonies,

Vol. 7, p. 30.

"Were every one of you a living missionary,

the message for this time would speedily be

proclaimed in all countries, to every people

and nation and tongue. This is the work

that must be done before Christ shall come

in power and great

glory."—Ibid.,

Vol. 6,

p. 438.

Reasons for Watching and

Praying

Why are we admonished to

watch and pray? 1 Peter 4:7. Com-

pare Mark 13: 33-36.

NoTE.—"End

of all things.

That is, the

end of the world. . . .

"Is at hand.

Literally, 'has come near.'

The imminent prospect of facing the great

Judge of the universe . . . is, indeed, a

sobering thought. Peter's counsel to be-

lievers, particularly that of the verses that

follow, is given in a spirit of urgency, be-

cause 'the end of all things is at hand.'

"—

SDA Bible Commentary,

on 1 Peter 4:7.

With what adversary are we

confronted? 1 Peter 5:8. Compare

Rev. 12:12.

NOTE.—"The more we learn in reference

to the early days of the Christian church,

and see with what subtlety Satan worked to

weaken and destroy, the better we shall be

prepared to resist his devices and meet com-

ing perils. We are in the time when trib-

ulations such as the world has never yet

seen will prevail. Woe to the inhabitors of

the earth and of the sea! for the devil is

come down unto you, having great wrath,

because he knoweth that he bath but a

short time.' But God has set bounds that

Satan cannot pass. Our most holy faith is

this barrier; and if we build ourselves up

in the faith, we shall be safe in the keeping

of the Mighty

One."—Testimonies,

Vol. 5,

p. 297.

"Through deceptive means and unseen

channels, Satan is working to strengthen

his authority and to place obstacles in the

way of God's people, that souls may not

be freed from his power and gathered un-

der the banner of Christ. By his deceptions

he is seeking to allure souls from Christ,

and those who are not established upon

the truth will surely be taken in his snare.

And those whom he cannot lead into sin

he will persecute, as the Jews did Christ."

—Ibid.,

p. 295.

By what means are we able to

escape temptations? Matt. 26:41.

NOTE.—"Christ was a perfect overcomer;

and we must be perfect and entire, want-

ing nothing, without spot or blemish. The

redemption which Christ achieved for man

was at infinite cost to Himself. The victory

we gain over our own evil hearts and over

the temptations of Satan will cost us

strong effort, constant watchfulness, and

persevering prayer; and we shall then not

only reap the reward, which is the gift of

eternal life, but shall increase our happi-

ness on earth by a consciousness of duty

performed, and by the greater respect and

love of those about

us."—Testimonies,

Vol.

4, p. 39.

What warning does Paul give

regarding apostasies and deceptions?

Acts 20:29-31.

NOTE.—"Satan hopes to involve the rem-

nant people of God in the general ruin that

is coming upon the earth. As the coming

of Christ draws nigh, he will be more de-

termined and decisive in his efforts to over-

throw them. Men and women will arise

professing to have some new light or some

new revelation whose tendency is to un-

settle faith in the old landmarks. Their

doctrines will not bear the test of God's

Word, yet souls will be deceived. False re-

ports will be circulated, and some will be

taken in this snare. They will believe these

rumors and in their turn will repeat them,

and thus a link will be formed connecting

them with the archdeceiver. This spirit will

not always be manifested in an open de-

fiance of the messages that God sends, but

a settled unbelief is expressed in many

ways. Every false statement that is made

feeds and strengthens this unbelief, and

through this means many souls will be

balanced in the wrong direction.

"We cannot be too watchful against

every form of error, for Satan is constantly

seeking to draw men from the truth."—

Testimonies, Vol. 5,

pp. 295, 296.

How is it possible to escape the

evils that are coming upon the world?

Luke 21:36.

10.

What personal counsel con-

cerning doctrine is given by the

apostle Paul? 1 Tim. 4:16.

NoTE.—One of the easiest things for us

to do is to watch others and to forget to

watch self. This is not God's plan for us.

Through Paul He says, "Take heed unto

thyself." This admonition we also find in

Acts 20:28: "Take heed therefore unto

yourselves." This we need to do constantly,

because Satan's arrows are ever pointed

at us. He knows that when our eyes are on

others we become easy targets for him.

"Doctrine. . . .

The successful church

leader will not only live an exemplary life

but will also possess a keen understanding

of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit cannot

bless the labors of those who work for

souls while willfully neglecting the thorough

study of the Word."—SDA

Bible Com-

mentary,

on 1 Tim. 4:16.

Two Classes When Christ Comes

11.

Describe the adverse effects on

character resulting from a careless and

indifferent attitude toward Christ's

coming. Luke 12:45, 46.

NoTE.—"That evil servant who said in

his heart, 'My Lord delayeth His com-

ing,' professed to be waiting for Christ.

He was a 'servant,' outwardly devoted to

the service of God while at heart he had

yielded to Satan. He does not, like the

scoffer, openly deny the truth, but reveals

in his life the sentiment of the heart—that

the Lord's coming is delayed. Presumption

renders him careless of eternal interests. He

accepts the world's maxims and conforms

to its customs and practices. Selfishness,

worldly pride, and ambitions predominate.

Fearing that his brethren may stand higher

than himself, he begins to disparage their

efforts and impugn their motives. Thus he

smites his fellow servants. As he alienates

himself from the people of God, he unites

more and more with the ungodly. He is

found eating and drinking 'with the

drunken'—joining with worldlings and par-

taking of their spirit. Thus he is lulled into

a carnal security and overcome by forget-

fulness, indifference, and

sloth."—Testimo-

nies,

Vol.

pp. 101, 102.

12.

Explain why, on the other hand,

an opposite ennobling transforma-

tion takes place in those who joy-

fully await their Lord's return. Luke

12:35-37; 1 John 3:3.

NorE.—"Because we know not the exact

time of His coming, we are commanded to

watch. . . . Those who are watching for

the Lord are purifying their souls by

obedience to the truth. With vigilant watch-

ing they combine earnest working. Because

they know that the Lord is at the door,

their zeal is quickened to cooperate with

the divine intelligences in working for the

salvation of souls. These are the faithful

and wise servants who give to the Lord's

household 'their portion of meat in due

season.' Luke 12:42. They are declaring the

truth that is now specially applicable."—

The Desire of Ages,

page 634.

Thought for Meditation

Those who do not watch unto prayer

are like a city without walls; they are ex-

posed to the inroads of the enemy of our

souls.

[ 29 ]

Lesson 9, for August 30, 1969

"Overcome Evil With Good"

MEMORY VERSE: "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Rom. 12:21.

STUDY HELPS: "The Desire of Ages," pages 114-131; "The Ministry of Healing,"

pages 484-496; "SDA Bible Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.

Sunday: Questions 1-4.

Monday: Questions 5, 6; begin

reading study helps.

Tuesday: Questions 7-9.

Check Here

Wednesday: Questions 10-12;

read further from helps.



❑

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Introduction

One of the most heartening parts of the

gospel is the assurance of personal victory.

Human nature says, "It can't be done."

But Paul, through inspiration says, "Over-

come evil with good." Rom. 12:21. Christ

is not indifferent to our struggle in over-

coming all that is evil. He knows that the

human heart is inadequate to cope with

the many evils in the world, evils that

reach into the inner recesses of the heart,

that concern the daily realities of life. The

first step in dealing with evil is to realize

that we must face it and believe that it

can be overcome through the power of

Christ. Evil becomes sinful only as we

cherish it. We read: "There are thoughts

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. Contrast Between Evil and Good

The Lord beholds both.

Prov. 15:3.

Constant conflict between them.

Rom. 7:15-19.

By nature all are evil, none good.

Ps. 14:2, 3 ; Rom. 3:12; Jer. 17:9.

The evil hate light; the good

love it. John 3:19-21.

Deceived call evil good and

good evil. Isa. 5:20, 24.

6. God says, "Depart from evil and

do good." Ps. 34:14; 37:27.

II. Evil Can Be Overcome

7. Through Christ. '1 Cor. 15:57;

Rom. 8:37.

8. Through faith. 1 John 5:4, 5.

9. By doing good. Rom. 12:21.

III. Promises tc Those Who Overcome

10. To eat of the tree of life. Rev. 2:7.

11. A white raiment. Rev. 3:5.

12. To inherit all things. Rev. 21:7.

THE LESSON

and feelings suggested and aroused by

Satan that annoy even the best of men;

but if they are not cherished, if they are

repulsed as hateful, the soul is not con-

taminated with guilt, and no other is de-

filed by their influence."-That

I May

Know Him,

page 140.

Contrast Between Evil and Good

What does the wise man say

concerning the eyes of the Lord?

Prov.



Chron. 16:9.

NOTE.

-"Beholding.

Better, 'keeping

watch.' Sometimes children are given the

[30]

impression that God watches them in

order to find cause for blame; but our

heavenly Father watches with the pitiful,

loving eye of One who knows the frailty

of our nature."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Prov. 15:3.

What frustrating experience did

Paul have regarding the conflict be-

tween evil and good? Rom. 7:15-19.

NoTE.—"No good thing.

It is impossible

for man of himself to resist the power of

evil. A higher power must take possession

of the soul before the evil passions can be

subdued. Paul experienced the painful frus-

tration that comes to all who seek to at-

tain to righteousness in their own strength."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Rom. 7:18.

What is the natural condition of

our human nature? Ps. 14:2, 3; Rom.

3:12; Jer. 17:9.

What contrasting attitudes are

manifested by those who do evil and

those who love truth? John 3:19-21.

NOTE.—"Cain hated and killed his

brother, not for any wrong that Abel had

done, but 'because his own works were

evil, and his brother's righteous.' . . . So

in all ages the wicked have hated those

who were better than themselves. Abel's

life of obedience and unswerving faith was

to Cain a perpetual reproof. 'Everyone

that doeth evil hateth the light, neither

cometh to the light, lest his deeds should

be reproved.' . .. The brighter the heavenly

light that is reflected from the character

of God's faithful servants, the more clearly

the sins of the ungodly are revealed, and

the more determined will be their efforts

to destroy those who disturb their peace."

—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 74.

What does Isaiah say will be the

reward of those who are deceived

about good and evil? Isa. 5:20, 24.

NOTE.—"He who persistently resists the

warnings that God in His mercy sends,

will ultimately become so perverse in his

thoughts that he is unable longer to dis-

tinguish between good and evil. He honestly

thinks right is wrong and wrong is right.

When perversity reaches such a pass, doom

cannot be long delayed."—SDA

Bible Com-

mentary,

on Isa. 5:20.

"God has pronounced a curse upon those

who depart from His commandments, and

put no difference between common and holy

things. . . . Let no one deceive himself

with the belief that a part of God's com-

mandments are nonessential, or that He

will accept a substitute for that which He

has

required."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 360.

What does God command His

children to do? Ps. 34:14; 37:27.

NoTE.—"Christian living is both negative

and positive; we must go away from evil,

and we must do good. Merely refraining

from evil is not enough. We must be ac-

tive in doing good."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on Ps. 34:14.

"The opinion which prevails in some

classes of society, that religion is not con-

ducive to health or to happiness in this

life, is one of the most mischievous of

errors. The Scripture

says:

'The fear of the

Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it

shall abide satisfied.' . . . 'What man is he

that desireth life, and loveth many days,

that he may see good? Keep thy tongue

from evil, and thy lips from speaking

guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek

peace, and pursue it.'

"—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

page 600.

Evil Can Be Overcome

Through whom is our victory

assured? 1 Cor. 15:57; Rom. 8:37.

Compare Phil. 4:13.

NOTE.—"Christ's victory was as com-

plete as had been the failure of Adam.

"So we may resist temptation, and force

Satan to depart from us. Jesus gained the

victory through submission and faith in

God, and by the apostle He says to us,

`Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist

[ 31 ]

the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw

nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to

you.' . . . We cannot save ourselves from

the tempter's power; he has conquered

humanity, and when we try to stand in

our own strength, we shall become a prey

to his devices; but 'the name of the Lord

is a strong tower: the righteous runneth

into it, and is safe.' . . . Satan trembles

and flees before the weakest soul who finds

refuge in that mighty name."—The

Desire

of Ages,

pages 130, 131.

What weapon are we to use in

gaining the victory over evil? 1 John

5:4, 5.

NOTE.—"Faith.

Gr.

pistis.

. . . This is

the only occurrence of this word in John's

Gospel or epistles. How can 'our faith'

enable us to overcome the world? John

provides the answer in v. 5, where he im-

plies that the faith to which he is referring

is that which accepts Jesus as the Son of

God. Such a faith appropriates the Sav-

iour's victory over the world and dupli-

cates it in the life of the believer. It does

not stop at mental assent but leads to

positive action. Like the paralytic who was

commanded to rise, we attempt what

seems impossible. . . . As our will chooses

to rise from the thralldom of sin, the life-

giving power of God comes into every

moral fiber and enables us to accomplish

what we by faith have willed. Were we to

lie back and wait for the Lord to lift

us up from sin, nothing would happen.

Our faith must lay hold of His promises,

and must desire, choose, and will to act

upon them before that strength can aid us."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on 1 John 5:4.

How does Paul say that evil can

be overcome? Rom. 12:21.

NOTE.—The twelfth chapter of Romans

presents many wonderful and helpful sug-

gestions for overcoming evil with good.

From verses 9 to 21 Paul gives not less

than twenty things the Christian is to

practice and do in his daily living. When

we heed them we shall have no trouble in

overcoming evil with good.

"Be not overcome of evil.

The infliction

of vengeance is a sign, not of strength, but

of weakness. The one who allows his tem-

per to be stirred up and his Christian

principles of love and self-control to be

abandoned suffers defeat. But the person

who represses the desire for revenge and

turns a wrong done to him into an op-

portunity for showing kindness gains a

victory over himself and over the powers

of evil. This is not only nobler in itself

but will be much more effective. It may

disarm an enemy . . . and win another

soul. Thus God has not meted out to

sinners the vengeance they have long de-

served, but rather has overwhelmed them

with love and mercy. And it is the good-

ness, forbearance, and long-suffering of God

that leads men to repentance. . . . The

Christian who is being tranformed into the

image of God . . . will show by his treat-

ment of his enemies that day by day his

character is becoming more and more like

the character of God, who is love."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Rom. 12:21.

Promises to Those Who

Overcome

10.

What promise did the Lord

make to the overcomer in the Ephesus

church? Rev. 2:7.

11.

According to the message given

the Sardis church, what are the prom-

ises to the overcomer? Rev. 3:5.

NOTE.—Notice the three promises in this

one text, promises not only for those in

the Sardis church, but to all the children

of God who will overcome. "Shall be

clothed in white raiment"; "I will not

blot out his name out of the book of life";

"I will confess his name before My Father,

and before His angels."

12.

How all-inclusive is the prom-

ise to the overcomer? Rev. 21:7.

NOTE.—When the conflict is ended, the

saints will have overcome. Their reward

is sure. They shall "inherit all things."

What a glorious inheritance! Tongue can-

not describe its beauty, its grandeur. The

overcomers over all that is evil and sinful

(

32]

are those who have a Christlike character.

They are pure in heart, for the pure in

heart "shall see God." They are the ones

who were willing to follow their Lord

wherever He led them. Now, they shall

"follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth."

Rev. 14:4.

Thought for Meditation

God would never bid us to be victorious

or to overcome if this were impossible. He

does not ask the impossible. It was Whittier

who said, "The smile of God is victory."

Lesson 10, for September 6, 1969

"Be Careful for Nothing"

MEMORY VERSE:

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and sup-

plication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Phil. 4:6.

STUDY HELPS:

"Thoughts From the Mount

(1943 ed., pp. 161-165); "The Desire

Commentary."

of Blessing," 1956 ed., pp. 109-113

of Ages," pages 364-371; "SDA Bible

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.

Sunday: Questions 1, 2; begin

reading study helps.

Monday: Questions 3-7.

❑

Tuesday: Questions 8, 9;

❑

read further from helps.

Wednesday: Questions 10-13.

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. Importance of the Command

God displeased when we worry.

Matt. 6:25-34.

Especially for our time.

Luke 21:34.

II. Reasons for Heeding the Command

God remembers us. Isa. 49:14-16.

God cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7.

God promises to supply all our

needs. Phil. 4:19.

Effects of our mental attitudes.

Prov. 17:22.

Because God remembers the

sparrow. Luke 12:6, 7.

III. Aids in Obeying the Command

Prayer and faith. Phil. 4:6.

Full surrender and trust in God.

Ps. 37:3-5.

IV. Examples of God's Care for

His Children

10.

Revealed in Joseph's experience.

Gen. 45:5-7.

11.

The miracle of the oil.

2 Kings 4:1-7.

12.

Paul's bonds contributed to the

"furtherance of the gospel."

Phil. 1:12, 19.

13.

Christ's contact with the Syro-

phoenician woman. Matt. 15 :21-28.

[ 33 ]

THE LESSON

more does He care for man, who is the

image and glory of God. He longs to see

His children reveal a character after His

similitude. As the sunbeam imparts to the

flowers their varied and delicate tints, so

does God impart to the soul the beauty of

His own character."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 313.

2. What warning are we to heed

as we near the end of time? Luke

21:34.

NoTE.—The twenty-first chapter of Luke

deals with conditions that will prevail prior

to the coming of the Lord. When the peo-

ple of God see the fulfillment of these signs

that are so prevalent, they are warned not

to have the cares of this life to worry them.

The word "cares" might well be rendered

"anxieties" or "worries."

Introduction

It is interesting to notice the following

translations of our memory verse: "Don't

worry over anything whatever; tell God

every detail of your needs in earnest and

thankful prayer." J. B. Phillips.* "Never

be anxious, but always make your requests

known to God in prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving." James Moffatt.t

Let us remember that God is pitiful and

tender in mercy. His heart of love is

touched when we sorrow. We are invited

to take to Him all our perplexities and

know that nothing is too great for Him

to bear. He who upholds the worlds, who

rules over all the affairs of the universe, is

the same God who notices the things that

affect our peace. He unravels the dark ex-

periences that come to us. He will not let

go by unnoticed the calamities that befall

us, the anxieties that harrass our soul, or

the sincere prayers we offer to Him.

Importance of the Command

1. What are some of the reasons

Jesus gives why we should not worry?

Matt. 6:25-34.

NOTE.—"All who have chosen God's ser-

vice are to rest in His care. Christ pointed

to the birds flying in the heavens, to the

flowers of the field, and bade His hearers

consider these objects of God's creation.

`Are not ye of much more value than

they?' . . . The measure of divine attention

bestowed on any object is proportionate to

its rank in the scale of being. The little

brown sparrow is watched over by Provi-

dence. The flowers of the field, the grass

that carpets the earth, share the notice and

care of our heavenly Father. The great

Master Artist has taken thought for the

lilies, making them so beautiful that they

outshine the glory of Solomon. How much

*The New Testament in Modern English

permission of the Macmillan Company.

The Moffatt Bible: A New Translation,

by James Moffatt. Copyright by James

Moffatt, 1954, reprinted by permission of

Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., New York

City.

Reasons for Heeding the

Command

3. What assurance has God given

us that He will always remember us?

Isa. 49:14-16. Compare Ps. 40:17.

NOTE.—"Graven thee.

Or, 'inscribed thee,'

or 'engraved thee.' Israel feared that God

had forgotten the covenant promises made

to the fathers. . . . The state of Israel in

Isaiah's time may seem to imply such for-

getfulness. But Isaiah declares that they

had no conception of the depth and en-

during quality of His love for them as a

people. . . . Throughout eternity the nail

prints in the hands of Christ will be a

perpetual reminder of His love for sinners."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Isa. 49:16.

"Will the Lord forget His people in this

trying hour? Did He forget faithful Noah

when judgments were visited upon the ante-

diluvian world? Did He forget Lot when

the fire came down from heaven to con-

sume the cities of the plain? Did He forget

Joseph surrounded by idolaters in Egypt?

Did He forget Elijah when the oath of

Jezebel threatened him with the fate of

the prophets of Baal? Did He forget Jere-

miah in the dark and dismal pit of his

[ 34

prison house? Did He forget the three

worthies in the fiery furnace? or Daniel

in the den of lions?

" 'Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken

me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can

a woman forget her sucking child, that she

should not have compassion on the son of

her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will

I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven

thee upon the palms of My hands.' . . .

The Lord of hosts has said: 'He that

toucheth you toucheth the apple of His

eye.' "—The Great Controversy,

page 626.

What are we bidden to do with

our cares? 1 Peter 5:7. Compare Ps.

37:18, 19, 25.

NOTE.—"Whatever your anxieties and

trials, spread out your case before the Lord.

Your spirit will be braced for endurance.

The way will be open for you to disen-

tangle yourself from embarrassment and

difficulty. The weaker and more helpless

you know yourself to be, the stronger will

you become in His strength. The heavier

your burdens, the more blessed the rest in

casting them upon your Burden Bearer.

"Circumstances may separate friends; the

restless waters of the wide sea may roll

between us and them. But no circumstances,

no distance, can separate us from the Sav-

iour. Wherever we may be, He is at our

right hand, to support, maintain, uphold,

and cheer. Greater than the love of a

mother for her child is Christ's love for

His redeemed. It is our privilege to rest in

His love, to say, 'I will trust Him ; for

He gave His life for me.'

"—The Ministry

of Healing,

page 72.

To what extent will God supply

our needs? Phil. 4:19.

NOTE.—"Supply. Literally, 'fulfill,' that

is, God will supply to the full any needs the

Christian might have. Elijah in exile was

sustained by ravens. . . . The lives of the

three young men were preserved in the

fiery furnace. . . . God's angels serve as

ministering spirits to supply the needs of

those who shall be heirs of salvation. .

In the last days, immediately prior to the

coming of Christ, when conditions are

severe, the bread and water of God's peo-

ple will be sure. . . . None who serve the

Lord need fear that He will leave them

uncared for."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

Phil. 4:19.

"Our heavenly Father has a thousand

ways to provide for us of which we know

nothing. Those who accept the one prin-

ciple of making the service of God supreme,

will find perplexities vanish and a plain

path before their feet."—The

Ministry of

Healing,

page 481.

How do our mental attitudes af-

fect us? Prov. 17:22.

NOTE.—"There are many whose hearts

are aching under a load of care because they

seek to reach the world's standard. They

have chosen its service, accepted its per-

plexities, adopted its customs. Thus their

character is marred and their life made a

weariness. The continual worry is wearing

out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to

lay aside this yoke of bondage. He invites

them to accept His yoke; He says, 'My

yoke is easy, and My burden is light.'

Worry is blind and cannot discern the fu-

ture; but Jesus sees the end from the be-

ginning. In every difficulty He has His way

prepared to bring relief. `No good thing

will He withhold from them that walk up-

rightly.'

"—The Ministry of Healing,

page

481.

What lesson of God's care for

us does the fifth sparrow teach? Luke

12:6, 7. Compare Matt. 10:29-31.

NOTE.—A sparrow was sold as an article

of food in the markets of Palestine. Two

were sold for a farthing, but an extra one

was thrown in when the buyer came along

with two farthings. Yet this extra sparrow,

almost worthless, was remembered by the

Lord. We read, "Not one of them is for-

gotten before God." Luke 12:6.

"Many limit divine Providence and di-

vorce mercy and love from His character.

They urge that the greatness and majesty

of God would forbid His interesting Him-

self in the concerns of the weakest of His

creatures. 'Are not two sparrows sold for

a farthing? and one of them shall not fall

on the ground without your Father. But the

[ 36 ]

very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value

than many

sparrows.'"—Testimonies,

Vol.

4, p. 522.

Aids in Obeying the Command

What does Paul suggest that

will help us to "be careful for noth-

ing"? Phil. 4:6.

NOTE.—It is well to remember that

prayer and faith are essential in obeying

the command, "Be careful for nothing."

Notice how Paul emphasizes prayer, "But

in everything by prayer and supplication."

Then faith is implied when he says, "Let

your requests be made known unto God."

Only those who have faith in Him make

known their requests to Him.

With what admonitions and

promises does the psalmist encourage

God's faithful followers? Ps. 37:3-5.

NOTE.—Notice the first word in each of

these verses: "Trust," "Delight," and

"Commit." Each word has a promise at-

tached to it. "Trust . . . , and verily thou

shalt be fed." "Delight . . . , and He shall

give thee the desires of thine heart." "Com-

mit . . , and He shall bring it to pass."

Those who trust in the Lord, who delight

in Him, and who commit their ways unto

Him, will have no trouble in obeying the

command: "Be careful for nothing."

Examples of God's Care for

His Children

10.

How was God's hand revealed

in Joseph's experience? Gen. 45:5-7.

11.

On another occasion, how did

He work to relieve the want of the

family of one of the prophets?

2 Kings 4:1-7.

12.

In what way did Paul explain

the failure of the plans of his en-

emies, and God's work on his behalf?

Phil. 1:12, 19.

13.

When traveling in the region

of Tyre and Sidon, how did Jesus

demonstrate His love and care for the

Gentiles as well as the Jews? Matt.

15:21-28.

Thought for Meditation

Our security is not found in laying up

goods for years to come, for often they

melt in an hour. Our safety is found in

the words, "Your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things."

Lesson 11, for September 13, 1969

"Grieve Not the Holy Spirit"

MEMORY VERSE:

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30.

STUDY HELPS:

"The Acts of the Apostles," pages 35-56; "SDA Bible Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.

Sunday: Questions

1-4.

Monday: Questions 5-7.

Tuesday: Questions 8-10; begin

reading study helps.



Check Here

Wednesday: Questions 11-13;

read further from helps.

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.



Friday: Review entire lesson.



[ 36 ]

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. The Spirit's Work

Reveals sins. John 16:8.

Leads. Rom. 8:14.

Guides into all truth. John 16:13.

Testifies of Christ. John 15:26.

The agency of communication.

Rom. 8:26, 27.

Unites the believers.

Eph. 4:12-15.

Aids in the battle against the

enemy. Isa. 59:19.

II. Conditions of Receiving the

Holy Spirit

Asking. Luke 11:11-13.

Confessing and forsaking sin.

Acts 2:37, 38.

10.

Obedience. Acts 5:32.

III. Grieve Not the Spirit

11.

Warning against grieving the Spirit.

Eph. 4:30.

12.

Grieving the Spirit leads to the

unpardonable sin. Matt. 12:31, 32.

13.

Our daily prayer. Ps. 51:11.

THE LESSON

What work of the Holy Spirit

is evident in the sons of God? Rom.

8:14.

Introduction

"In every age there is given to men their

day of light and privilege, a probationary

time in which they may become reconciled

to God. But there is a limit to this grace.

Mercy may plead for years and be slighted

and rejected; but there comes a time when

mercy makes her last plea. The heart be-

comes so hardened that it ceases to respond

to the Spirit of God. Then the sweet, win-

ning voice entreats the sinner no longer,

and reproofs and warnings cease.

"That day had come to Jerusalem. Je-

sus wept in anguish over the doomed city,

but He could not deliver her. He had ex-

hausted every resource. In rejecting the

warnings of God's Spirit, Israel had re-

jected the only means of help. There was

no other power by which they could be

delivered."-The

Desire of Ages,

page 587.

The Spirit's Work

1. What is one of the functions of

the Holy Spirit? John 16:8.

NoTE.-"The office of the Holy Spirit is

distinctly specified in the words of Christ:

`When He is come, He will reprove the

world of sin, and of righteousness, and of

judgment.' . . . It is the Holy Spirit that

convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to

the quickening influence of the Spirit, he

will be brought to repentance and aroused

to the importance of obeying the divine

requirements."-The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 52.

NOTE.-"Are

led.

Or, 'are being

ed.' The

present tense indicates •continuous action.

The leading of the Spirit does not mean

a momentary impulse but a steady, habitual

influence. It is not those whose hearts are

occasionally touched by the Spirit, or those

who now and then yield to His power, who

are the sons of God. God recognizes as

His sons only those who are continually

led by His Spirit.

"It is important to notice that the guid-

ing and transforming power of the Holy

Spirit is described as leading, not forcing.

There is no coercion in the plan of sal-

vation. The Spirit dwells only in the hearts

of those who accept Him in faith. And

faith implies a loving and willing sub-

mission to the will of God and the direct-

ing influence of the Holy Spirit."-SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Rom. 8:14.

What title does Jesus bestow

upon the Holy Spirit, and into what

does He guide us? John 16:13.

NOTE.-"Spirit of Truth.

This expression

occurs again in chs. 15:26; 16:13. The

emphasis seems to be upon the fact that the

Spirit defines, imparts, and defends truth.

. . . The Spirit would guide the disciples

[371

`into all truth!"—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on John 14:17.

Through the centuries searchers for

truth have asked, "What is truth?" God

has placed the desire in the heart, and it

must not be quenched. The world is filled

with error. The best way to expose error

is to present truth. Truth needs



no de-

fender. We can know what truth is, so

Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth."

John 8:32. The Bible gives these answers

to the question, "What is truth?" (1) "I

am the . . . truth." John 14:6; (2) "The

Spirit is truth." 1 John 5:6; (3) "Thy

Word is truth." John 17:17; (4) "Thy law

[all of God's revealed will] is the truth."

Ps. 119:142. To reject any one of these,

Jesus, the Spirit, the Word, or His re-

vealed will, means to grieve the Spirit.

How intimate is the work and

relationship between Christ and the

Holy Spirit? John 15:26.

What part does the Spirit have

in our communion with God? Rom.

8:26, 27.

NOTE.—"We must not only _pray in

Christ's name, but by the inspiration of

the Holy Spirit. This explains what is

meant when it is said that the Spirit

`maketh intercession for us, with groan-

ings which cannot be uttered.' . . . Such

prayers God delights to answer. When with

earnestness and intensity we breathe a

prayer in the name of Christ, there is in

that very intensity a pledge from God that

He is about to answer our prayer 'exceed-

ing abundantly above all that we ask or

think.'

"—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 147.

What effects do the gifts of the

Spirit have upon the church? Eph.

4:12-15. Compare Eph. 4:3, 4; Acts

2:1-4, 46.

NOTE.—"If God's professed people would

receive the light as it shines upon them

from His Word, they would reach that

unity for which Christ prayed, that which

the apostle describes, 'the unity of the

Spirit in the bond of peace.' There is, he

says,

'one

body, and

one

Spirit, even as ye

are called in

one

hope of your calling; one

Lord, one faith, one baptism.'

"—The Great

Controversy,

page 379.

What has the Lord promised to

do for us when we are confronted

by the enemy? Isa. 59:19.

NOTE.—"Temptations often appear irre-

sistible because, through neglect of prayer

and the study of the Bible, the tempted one

cannot readily remember God's promises

and meet Satan with the Scripture weap-

ons. But angels are round about those who

are willing to be taught in divine things;

and in the time of great necessity they will

bring to their remembrance the very truths

which are needed. Thus 'when the enemy

shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of

the Lord shall lift up a standard against

him.'

"—The Great Controversy,

page 600.

"When the enemy comes in with seem-

ingly irresistible force, and it appears that

nothing can prevent him from pouring out

his wrath on the righteous, God reveals

His mighty power. . . . Again and again

throughout history God has intervened in

the most marvelous ways to deliver His

people. Such will again be the experience

of God's people in the great crisis at the

end of time. At the moment the wicked of

earth think they have the saints completely

within their power, the Lord will mani-

fest Himself, destroying their enemies and

taking the saints home with Him to receive

their inheritance."—SDA

Bible Commen-

tary,

on Isa. 59:19.

Conditions of Receiving the

Holy Spirit

How does Jesus impress us with

the importance of asking for the Holy

Spirit? Luke 11:11-13.

In his sermon on the Day of

Pentecost, what did Peter say was

vital in order to receive the Holy

Spirit? Acts 2:37, 38.

t38]

10.

How does God respond to man's

attitude of submission and obedience?

Acts 5:32.

NOTE.—"The Spirit of God is given to

the obedient: in proportion as a man who

has received the

first

influences of it (for

without this he cannot

move

in the spiri-

tual life) is obedient to these influences, in

the same proportion the gifts and graces,

the light, life, and power, of the Holy

Spirit, are increased in His

soul."—Clarke's

Commentary,

Vol. 5, p. 720.

Grieve Not the Spirit

11.

What important warning does

Paul give concerning the Spirit? Eph.

4:30. Compare 1 Thess. 5:19; Gen.

6:3.

NoTE.—"Grieve.

Gr.

lupeO,

'to cause

pain,' to distress,' to grieve.' The Greek

phrase may be translated, 'stop grieving.'

The personality of the Holy Spirit is here

clearly implied; only

persons

can be

grieved."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

Eph. 4:30.

We are warned not to grieve the Spirit

because we are sealed by Him unto the day

of redemption. Regarding this thought we

read: "It is hoped that the believer will

persevere and that he will be glorified.

This can be only if he holds 'fast the con-

fidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm

unto the end.' . . . The act of sealing does

not forever guarantee salvation, for it is

possible to sin against the Holy Spirit and

thus forfeit redemption. . . . The sin for

which there is no pardon comes as a climax

to a series of grievings. It is important

therefore to guard against even a single act

of grieving."—Ibid.

12.

What is the ultimate result of

sinning against the Holy Spirit?

Matt. 12:31, 32.

NOTE.—The Pharisees charged Jesus with

being in league with Satan. They said, You

have the devil. Furthermore, they said,

You cast out devils through the prince of

devils. Matt. 9:34. Christ answered, "If

Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against

himself. . . . And if I by Beelzebub cast

out devils, by whom do your children cast

them out?" Matt. 12:26, 27. These ques-

tions closed their mouths. These words

against Jesus led up to the unpardonable

sin referred to in verse 31.

We read: "In rejecting Christ the Jewish

people committed the unpardonable sin;

and by refusing the invitation of mercy,

we may commit the same error."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 324. According to this

statement the sin against the Holy Spirit

is expressed in the words, "Refusing the

invitation of mercy." Another answer to

the question, "What is the unpardonable

sin?" is found in the words, "The most

common manifestation of the sin against

the Holy Spirit is in persistently slighting

Heaven's invitation to repent. Every step

in the rejection of Christ is a step toward

the rejection of salvation, and toward the

sin against the Holy Spirit."—Ibid.

As long as God calls us to repentance, to

forsake sin, whatever it may be, so long

there is hope for us. But if we refuse to

forsake it, and do not turn from it or

leave it alone, that sin will become un-

pardonable, for God will cease to ask us

to forsake it. This thought is borne out in

the experience of Saul. Of him we read, "It

was not pardon for sin and reconciliation

with God, that he sought, but deliverance

from his foes. By his own stubbornness and

rebellion he had cut himself off from God."

—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 676.

13.

Realizing the seriousness of

quenching the Holy Spirit, what

should be our daily prayer? Ps. 51:11.

Thought for Meditation

"Conscience is the voice of God, heard

amid the conflict of human passions; when

it is resisted, the Spirit of God is grieved."

—Testimonies,

Vol. 5, p. 120.

"Talk unbelief, and you will

have unbelief; but talk faith,

and you will have faith. Ac-

cording to the seed sown

will be the

harvest."—His-

torical Sketches,

page 142.

[397

Lesson 12, for September 20, 1969

"Be Ye Reconciled"

MEMORY VERSE:

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did

beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

2 Cor. 5:20.

STUDY HELPS:

"Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 63-70; "SDA Bible Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

Check Here

Wednesday: Questions



11, 12;

learn memory verse.

read further from helps.

Sunday: Questions 1, 2; begin

Thursday: Finish reading study

reading study helps.

❑

helps.

❑

Monday: Questions 3-7.

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Tuesday: Questions 8-10.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. The Need of Reconciliation

Sinful man not reconciled.

Isa. 59:2.

Scope of reconciliation.

2 Cor. 5:18, 19.

II. Thoughts Concerning Reconciliation

Foretold. Dan. 9:24.

Taught by Christ's ambassadors.

2 Cor. 5:20.

Reveals suffering of God with

Christ. 2 Cor. 5:19 (first part).

Through the death of Christ.

Rom. 5:10.

Purpose of reconciliation.

Col. 1:21, 22.

III. Sinners' Hope Centers in Reconcili-

ation and Redemption

Redemption. Eph. 1:7.

Reconciliation. Heb. 2:17.

10.

Propitiation. 1 John 4:10.

11.

Salvation. Rom. 5:10; Heb. 7:25.

12.

The home of the saved.

Rev. 21:1-7.

THE LESSON

merits of Christ he can be restored to

harmony with his Maker. His heart must

be renewed by divine grace; he must have

a new life from above. This change is the

new birth, without which, says Jesus, 'he

cannot see the kingdom of God.'

"—The

Great Controversy,

page 467.

Introduction

"It is the work of conversion and sancti

fication to reconcile men to God b

y'bring-

ing them into accord with the principles

of His law. In the beginning, man was

created in the image of God. He was in

perfect harmony with the nature and

the law of God; the principles of righteous-

ness were written upon his heart. But sin

alienated him from his Maker. He no

longer reflected the divine image. His heart

was at war with the principles of God's

law. 'The carnal mind is enmity against

God: for it is not subject to the law of

God, neither indeed can be.' Romans 8:7.

But 'God so loved the world, that He

gave His only-begotten Son,' that man

might be reconciled to God. Through the

The Need of Reconciliation

1. What has sin brought about be-

tween man and God? Isa. 59:2.

NOTE. "The first step in reconciliation

to God is the conviction of sin. 'Sin is the

transgression of the law.' By the law is

[ 40 ]

the knowledge of sin.' . . In order to see

his guilt, the sinner must test his character

by God's great standard of righteousness.

It is a mirror which shows the oerfection

of a righteous character and en les him

to discern the defects in his

own."—The

Great Controversy,

page 467.

"Sin erects a barrier between man and

God. If heaven seems far distant from

earth, it is because sin has hung a veil of

separation between man and God."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Isa. 59:2.

What does Paul say is the scope

of reconciliation? 2 Cor. 5:18, 19.

NOTE.—Regarding the scope of reconcili-

ation we read:

"Reconciling the world.

The plan of

salvation does not consist in reconciling

God to men, but in reconciling men to God.

The entrance of sin had set men at enmity

with God, and it was the purpose of Christ

in coming to this world to win back the

affection and loyalty of men toward God."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on 2 Cor. 5:19.

"Satan's lying charges against the divine

character and government appeared in their

true light. He had accused God of seeking

merely the exaltation of Himself in re-

quiring submission and obedience from His

creatures, and had declared that, while the

Creator exacted self-denial from all others,

He Himself practiced no self-denial and

made no sacrifice. Now it was seen that for

the salvation of a fallen and sinful race,

the Ruler of the universe had made the

greatest sacrifice which love could make;

for 'God was in Christ, reconciling the

world unto Himself.'

"—The Great Con-

troversy,

page 502.

Thoughts Concerning

Reconciliation

What prophecy foretold the

work of reconciliation? Dan. 9:24.

What have Christ's ambassadors

been commissioned to do? 2 Cor.

5:20.

NOTE.—"As

though God.

It is the am-

bassador for Christ who speaks 'the word

of reconciliation' (v. 19). God speaks to

men through His ambassadors, even as

He reconciled the world to Himself through

Christ. . . . See Isa. 1:18; Jer. 44:4; Eze.

33:11; Hosea 11:8.

"In Christ's stead.

Literally, 'for Christ,'

that is, on behalf of Christ. The Christian

ambassador is in no sense a substitute for

Christ, but simply the one through whom

reconciliation is effected. He is in no sense

a priestly mediator, for there is only 'one

mediator between God and men, the Man

Christ Jesus.' . . . Reconciliation has al-

ready been provided in Christ. The minis-

ter is simply the agent by whom 'the word

of reconciliation' .



. is proclaimed to

others. He is not the creator or dispenser

of it. He leads men and women into the

presence of God, where they experience

reconciliation for themselves. His task is

to convince men that God has provided

reconciliation in Christ. Each believer thus

has access to and deals directly with God."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on 2 Cor. 5:20.

"The example of those who minister in

holy things should be such as to impress

the people with reverence for God and

with fear to offend Him. When men,

standing 'in Christ's stead' . . . to speak

to the people God's message of mercy and

reconciliation, use their sacred calling as a

cloak for selfish or sensual gratification,

they make themselves the most effective

agents of

Satan."—Patriarchs and Proph-

ets,

page 580.

What was the relationship be-

tween the Father and the Son in the

work of reconciliation? 2 Cor. 5:19

(first part).

NoTE.—The work of reconciliation takes

on a deeper meaning when we know that

"God was in Christ," and that He suffered

with His Son in bringing about reconcilia-

tion. We read: " 'And the counsel of peace

shall be between Them both.' The love of

the Father, no less than of the Son, is the

fountain of salvation for the lost race.

Said Jesus to His disciples before He

went away: 'I say not unto you, that I

will pray the Father for you: for the Fa-

ther Himself loveth you.' . . . God was 'in

Christ, reconciling the world unto Him-

[

41]

self.' . . . And in the ministration in the

sanctuary above, 'The counsel of peace

shall be between Them both.'

"—The Great

Controversy,

pages 416, 417.

What does Paul say was the

price of reconciliation? Rom. 5:10.

NOTE.—"The Bible nowhere speaks of

God being reconciled to man. It is true

that the death of Christ made it possible

for God to do for man what He otherwise

could not have done. . . . By bearing the

penalty of transgression Christ provided a

way by which men might be restored to

God's favor and be brought back to their

Eden home . . . ; and but for the sacrifice

of Christ all men would have reaped the

inevitable results of sin and rebellion in

final destruction under the wrath of God.

. . . But this does not mean that God

needed to be reconciled. The alienation was

entirely on man's part . . . , and it is God

who, in His great love, initiates the recon-

ciliation: 'God was in Christ, reconciling

the world unto Himself.' . . . Though God

strongly hates sin, His love for sinners is

even stronger, and He has spared nothing,

however dear, to bring about a reconcili-

ation. . . . Christ did not die to win God's

love for man, but to win man back to

God."—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Rom.

5:10.

What does Paul say about

Christ's purpose in His work of recon-

ciliation? Col. 1:21, 22.

Sinners' Hope Centers in

Reconciliation and Redemption

What is the apostle's message to

the Ephesians regarding redemption?

Eph. 1:7.

condemnation that sin brings into the life.

Redemption brings about a new life. Paul

speaks of it as "newness of life." Rom.

6:4. It is the Christ life within the heart.

It is the life referred to when he said,

"Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ

liveth in me." Gal. 2:20. Christ does not

live within a heart unless we have been

reconciled with God and man. His redeem-

ing grace accomplishes all this for sinful

man.

Why was Christ "made like

unto His brethren"? Heb. 2:17.

NorE.—The writer of the book of He-

brews makes it very clear that Christ was

"made like unto His brethren," for two

reasons: one, "that He might be a merci-

ful and faithful high priest in things per-

taining to God"; and two, "to make

reconciliation for the sins of the people."

Reconciliation is the result of the acceptance

of redemption. Concerning this word we

should note that it is an act of God's

grace that leads men and women to accept

forgiveness and gives them a determination

to live a new life in Christ. The work of

conversion and sanctification reconciles us

to God and brings us into accord with the

principles of His Word.

10.

What does John say concerning

the Father's purpose in sending Christ

to this world? 1 John 4:10.

NoTE.—The word "propitiation," or "ex-

piation," conveys the idea of mercy or

reconciliation. This does not mean that

God's anger requires appeasement, but that

Jesus came to make reconciliation for the

sins of the people. The Greek emphasizes

that Christ Himself is the propitiation as

well as the propitiator. He is both priest

and victim.

11. What does the sinner need

"much more" than reconciliation?

Rom. 5:10; Heb. 7:25.

NoTE.—It impossible to separate recon-

ciliation and redemptiOn. The word "re-

demption" irl'EphesiapsA :7 carries with it

the thought of releasing, a buying back, or

a ransom. In plain words it is defined as



NoTE.—Christ's death made reconcilia-

"the forgiveness of sins." This means that



tion possible, that is art eiiiiimtion of a

the sinner is liberated from the filth and



peaceful relationship with-..Ge

d. Christ's

[ 42 ]

life makes possible the maintenance of

such a relationship.

"If the death of Christ had such saving

power in effecting our reconciliation, how

much more will His risen life have power

to bring our salvation to joyous fulfill-

ment."-SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Rom.

5:10.

12. What will

the grand result

of God's plan of reconciliation? Rev.

21:1-7.

NOTE.

-"Soon we shall see Him in whom

our hopes of eternal life are centered. And

in His

presence

the trials and sufferings of

this life will seem as nothingness. . . .

"Look up, look up, and let your faith

continually increase. Let this faith guide

you along the narrow path that leads

through the gates of the city into the

great beyond, the wide, unbounded future

of glory that is for the redeemed. [James

5:7,

quoted.] "-Prophets and Kings,

page 732.

Thought for Meditation

We cannot wrestle with God and

wrangle with men. To be reconciled with

our fellowmen is an essential preparation

to meet God in peace.

Lesson 13, for September 27, 1969

"Be Ye Perfect"

MEMORY VERSE: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven

is perfect." Matt. 5:48.

STUDY HELPS: "Christ's Object Lessons," pages 95-102; "Steps to Christ," pages

43-48, 67-75; "Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing," 1956 ed., pp. 76-78

(1943 ed., pp. 116-118); "SDA Bible Commentary."

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT AND RECORD

Check Here

Sabbath afternoon: General survey;

learn memory verse.



Sunday: Questions 1-3; begin

reading study helps.

Monday: Questions 4-9.

Tuesday: Questions 10-12.

Check Here

Wednesday: Read further from

study helps.



❑

Thursday: Finish reading study

helps.



❑

Friday: Review entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction

I. Importance of the Command

Perfection lost through sin.

Gen. 3:7.

Taught by Christ. Matt. 5:48.

Paul's conception of the command,

"Be ye perfect." Phil. 3:12-14.

II. Means of Attaining Perfection

4. Not through outward display or

aims. 1 Sam. 16:7.

Through complete surrender.

Matt. 16:24, 25.

Through the Word. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

Through patience. James 1:4.

Step-by-step process. Heb. 6:1.

By beholding Christ. 2 Cor. 3:18.

III. Perfection to Become a Reality

10.

In Christ. Col. 2:9, 10.

11.

Christ's ideal for His church.

Eph. 5:25-27.

12.

In His people before the coming

of the Lord. 1 John 3:2.

THE LESSON

Introduction

"In the OT

tam

signifies completeness,

integrity, and sincerity, but always in a

relative sense when used of man. A person

with a 'perfect heart' was a man whose

life was completely devoted to the Lord.

. . . Thus Job was designated as 'perfect'

. . . despite weaknesses revealed later by

adversity . . . , showing that his perfection

was relative rather than absolute. Sim-

ilarly, Noah was said to be 'perfect' . . .

though later he succumbed to the weakness

of the flesh. . . . Perfection was the ideal

God set before Abraham. . . . The RSV

generally translates

tam,

'blameless.' . . .

"In the NT 'perfection' consists essen-

tially in maturity as distinguished from im-

maturity, as adults differ from children and

youth. A mature person is one who has

attained the normal limits of stature,

strength, and mental power. This concept

of maturity is clearly evident in such

passages as 1 Cor. 2:6; 14:20; Eph. 4:13,

14; Phil. 3:15; Heb. 5:14. Paul speaks of

himself and his fellow Christians as already

perfect . . . , but in almost the same

breath makes it evident that there is a

sense in which perfection is a goal yet to

be attained."—SDA

Bible Dictionary,

"Perfect," "Perfection," page 840.

Importance of the Command

1. After Adam and Eve sinned,

what sudden realization came to

them? Gen.

3:7.

NoTE.—The first record of man's crea-

tion reads: "So God created man in His

own image, in the image of God created

He him." Gen.

1:27.

A perfect creation !

A perfect being! But sin marred man's

perfect life; it caused him to lose his

perfect character.

"The eyes of them both were opened.

What irony lies in these words, which

record the fulfillment of Satan's ambigu-

ous promise! The eyes of their intellect

were open—they realized that they were

no longer innocent. Their physical eyes

were opened—they saw that they were

naked.

"And made themselves aprons.

Standing

ashamed in each other's presence, they

sought to evade the disgrace of their

nakedness. Their fig-leaf aprons were a

pitiful substitute for the radiant garments

of innocence they had forfeited."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Gen. 3:7.

In the Sermon on the Mount,

what standard did Jesus uphold be-

fore His hearers? Matt.

5:48.

NOTE.—"The word 'therefore' implies a

conclusion, an inference from what has

gone before. Jesus has been describing to

His hearers the unfailing mercy and love

of God, and He bids them therefore to

be perfect. . . .

"The conditions of eternal life, under

grace, are just what they were in Eden—

perfect righteousness, harmony with God,

perfect conformity to the principles of His

law. The standard of character presented

in the Old Testament is the same that is

presented in the New Testament. This

standard is not one to which we cannot

attain. In every command or injunction

that God gives, there is a promise, the

most positive, underlying the command.

God has made provision that we may be-

come like unto Him, and He will accom-

plish this for all who do not interpose a

perverse will and thus frustrate His grace."

—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,

page 76.

How did Paul express his feel-

ing regarding perfection? Phil.

12-14.

NOTE.—It is most dangerous to sit at

ease and say, "I have reached perfection."

With Paul we must say, "I count not my-

self to have apprehended: . . . I press

toward the mark for the prize of the high

calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:

13, 14. Those who boast of their perfection

are as imperfect as were the Pharisees in

the days of Christ. It was Spurgeon who

said, "He who boasts of being perfect is

perfect in folly. I never saw a perfect man.

Every rose has its thorns and every day

its night. Even the sun shows spots, and

the skies are darkened with clouds. And

faults of some kind nestle in every bosom."

1 44

Means of Attaining Perfection

In what way does God evaluate

a man's true character? 1 Sam. 16:7.

Compare Rom. 14:17.

NoTE.—In all the illustrations Christ

shows that in the kingdom to be established

it is the inner attitude and motive that

will determine perfection of character and

not that which appears on the outside. It

is human to look on outward appearances

and divine to look into the heart.

We read: "The Jews were toiling wearily

to become righteous by their own efforts,

to earn salvation by works. But in their

scrupulous legalism they paid so much at-

tention to the minute details of the letter

of the law that they lost sight completely

of its spirit. . . . In the Sermon on the

Mount Christ sought to turn their atten-

tion from the husks to the wheat. They

had made the law an end in itself, some-

thing to be kept for its own sake, and had

forgotten that its purpose was to lift their

gaze to the high ideals of supreme love

toward God and self-sacrificing love

toward one's fellowmen. . . . The rabbis

taught that righteousness consists in having

an excess of good deeds over evil deeds to

one's account in heaven.

"It is important to note the relationship

between vs. 48 and 45 (ch. 5), for to be

`children of your Father which is in heaven'

(v. 45) is equivalent to being 'perfect, even

as your Father which is in heaven is per-

fect' (v.

48)."—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Matt. 5:48..

What initial step is essential in

order to obtain perfection? Matt. 16:

24, 25. Compare Matt. 10:37, 38;

26:39 (last part).

NOTE.—"When one surrenders to Christ,

the mind is brought under the control of

the law; but it is the royal law, which

proclaims liberty to every captive. By be-

coming one with Christ, man is made free.

Subjection to the will of Christ means

restoration to perfect manhood."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 131.

What does God's Word do for

us in the development of a perfect

character? 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

What does James admonish us

to do in order to reach perfection?

James 1:4.

How does the writer of the book

of Hebrews suggest that we develop

perfection? Heb. 6:1. Compare Mark

4:28.

Noit:--"S4nctific

atibn is not the work

of a momentTaVhour, a day, but of a

lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight

of feeling, but is the result of constantly

dying to sin, and constantly living for

Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor

reformations wrought in the character by

feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by

long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and

stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We

know not one day how strong will be our

conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns,

we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins

to overcome; so long as life shall last, there

will be no stopping place, no point which

we can reach and say, I have fully at-

tained. Sanctification is the result of life-

long obedience."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

pages 560, 561.

What takes place in the lives of

those who behold Christ? 2 Cor. 3:18.

NOTE.—"Thso_ptempla

;

tIpn of the image

of Christ acts uporillie



olal and spiritual

nature as the presence of God did upon

the face of Moses. The humblest Christian

who constantly looks to Christ as his Re-

deemer will reflect in his own life some-

thing of the glory of Christ. If he faith-

fully continues to do so, he will go on

`from glory to glory' in his personal Chris-

tian experience. . .

"From glory to glory.

This transforma-

tion is progressive. It advances from one

stage of glory to another. Our spiritual

assimilation of Christ comes through His

[ 45 ]

glory and results in a reflection of glory

like unto

His."—SDA Bible Commentary,

on 2 Cor. 3:18.

Perfection to Become a Reality

10. In whom is perfection of char-

acter realized? Col. 2:9, 10. Compare

2 Peter 1:4-8.

NOTE.—Goodspeed renders Colossians 2:

9, 10 thus: "It is in Him [Christ] that

all the fullness of God's nature lives em-

bodied, and in union with Him you too

are filled with it."

"The Scriptures teach us to seek for the

sanctification to God of body, soul, and

spirit. In this work we are to be laborers

together with God. Much may be done to

restore the moral image of God in man,

to improve the physical, mental, and moral

capabilities. Great changes can be made in

the physical system by obeying the laws

of God and bringing into the body nothing

that defiles. And while we cannot claim

perfection of the flesh, we may have Chris-

tian perfection of the soul. Through the

sacrifice made in our behalf, sins may be

perfectly forgiven. Our dependence is not

in what man can do; it is in what God

can do for man through Christ. When we

surrender ourselves wholly to God, and

fully believe, the blood of Christ cleanses

from all sin. The conscience can be freed

from condemnation. Through faith in His

blood, all may be made perfect in Christ

Jesus. Thank God that we are not dealing

with impossibilities. We may claim sancti-

fication. We may enjoy the favor of God.

We are not to be anxious about what

Christ and God think of us, but about

what God thinks of Christ, our Substitute.

Ye are accepted in the Beloved. The Lord

shows, to the repenting, believing one, that

Christ accepts the surrender of the soul, to

be molded and fashioned after His own

likeness."—Selected Messages,

Bk. 2, pp.

32, 33.

11.

What is Christ's ideal for His

church? Eph. 5:25-27.

12.

What will be the condition of

the church at the coming of Christ?

1 John 3:2.

NOTE.—"When this work shall have been

accomplished, the followers of Christ will

be ready for His appearing. 'Then shall

the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be

pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of

old, and as in former years.' Malachi 3:4.

Then the church which our Lord at His

coming is to receive to Himself will be a

'glorious church, not having spot, or

wrinkle, or any such thing.' Ephesians 5:

27. Then she will look 'forth as the morn-

ing, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and

terrible as an army with banners.' Song of

Solomon

6:10."—The Great Controversy,

page 425.

"Christ will clothe His faithful ones with

His own righteousness, that He may pre-

sent them to His Father 'a glorious church,

not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such

thing.' Ephesians 5:27. Their names stand

enrolled in the book of life, and concerning

them it is written: 'They shall walk with

Me in white: for they are worthy.' Revela-

tion 3:4.

"Thus will be realized the complete ful-

fillment of the new-covenant promise: 'I

will forgive their iniquity, and I will re-

member their sin no more.' In those days,

and in that time, saith the Lord, the in-

iquity of Israel shall be sought for, and

there shall be none; and the sins of Judah,

and they shall not be found.' Jeremiah

31:34;

50:20."—/bid.,

pp. 484, 485.

Thought for Meditation

It was Augustine who said, "This is the

very perfection of a man, to find out his

own imperfection."

The teacher's edition of the "Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly"

is a valuable aid to every Sabbath-school teacher, because every

other page is blank, providing space for writing out texts, notes,

comments, etc. Ask your Sabbath-school secretary to secure one for

you along with the order for regular "Quarterlies."

[ 46 ]

THIRTEENTH SABBATH OFFERING

September 27, 1969

Far Eastern Division

The lure of exotic tropical islands, the challenge of a land gripped in

the horrors of war, the demand for more national workers with graduate

degrees to keep pace with rising standards of nations newly proud of

their progress—these are all reflected in the projects chosen for special

assistance from the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering overflow this quarter.

The three projects are:

A training school in the islands of Palau. The administration build-

ing of the old school was destroyed by a typhoon; and now, with the

purchase of a new plot of ground in a better location, the time has come

to build a larger and better school that will serve the children and youth

of this whole area and prepare workers for the entire Trust Territories

of the South Pacific. The need is both urgent and outstanding.

A new hospital for the city of Saigon. Our small hospital in this

war-torn city has done excellent service for the sick and injured. A new

hospital will be constructed less than a mile from the old one but in a

spot where there is not so much constant traffic. The new hospital will

enable the medical staff to give more efficient and effective service.

The construction of the administration building for the Far Eastern

Division School of Advanced Studies on the grounds of the Philippine

Union College. This school is urgently needed to meet the demand for

qualified workers in all parts of the Far East.

Lessons for the Fourth Quarter of 1969

Sabbath School members who have not received a senior

Lesson Quarterly

for

the fourth quarter of 1969 will be helped by the following outline in studying

the first lesson. The title of the series is "Keys of the Kingdom." The title of the

first lesson is, "Christ, the Author and the Theme of Scripture." The memory

verse is John 5:39. The texts to be studied are:

Ques. 1. Col. 3:16 (first part).

Ques. 2. 1 Peter 1:10-12.

Ques. 3. John 5:39.

Ques. 4. Isa. 11:1-3.

Ques. 5. Ps. 40:7, 8.

Ques. 6. Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13.

Ques. 7. Heb. 4:12.

Ques. 8. Hosea 6:5.

Ques. 9. Luke 4:32; Matt. 7:29.

Ques. 10. Matt. 5:21, 22, 27, 28,

38, 39, 43, 44.

Ques. 11. Matt. 21:42 (first part) ;

Luke 10:26.

Ques. 12. John 3:19-21; 1:9-11, 5.

Ques. 13. Luke 24:25-27.

[47

]

FAR EASTERN DIVISION

Unions

Central Philippine U.M.

East Indonesia

U.M.

Japan U.M.

Korean U.M.

North Philippine U.M.

South China Island U.M.

South Philippine U.M.

Southeast Asia U.M.

West Indonesia U.M.

Far Eastern Island Mission

JAPAN



Church



Sab. Sch.

Population Churches Members Members



8,109,702



295



32,068



40,806



8,165,000



215



15,695



21,583



100,558,851

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6,798

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6,541

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29,207,856



239



31,702



27,479

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18,042,000



517



39,789



43,031



17,036,206



7,718



7,749



7,757,277



307



39,542



47,583

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69,833,430



12,221



14,490

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109,205,000



256



21,337



29,049

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175,000

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625



614

410 OKINAWA

.4C

Division Totals

.....

/KRUNG THEP

\IC 4i1•10;$

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368,090,322 2,042 207,495 238,925

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